Little Change in November Jobless Rates

Illinois' unemployment rate for November stood at 4.2%, the same rate as one year earlier.

Locally, the Effingham County jobless rate for the month was 2.9%, up from 2.6% in November 2022. Total non-farm employment increased by 950, though, indicating an increase in the number of people in the labor force.

Employment gains were posted in Government (+300), Leisure and Hospitality (+200), Construction (+175), Educational and Health Services (+100), Manufacturing (+50), Other Services (+50), Financial Activities (+25), Professional and Business Services (+25), Natural Resources and Mining (+25), and Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+25). Over the year, nonfarm payrolls declined in the region's Information industry (-25).

Other area counties and their November jobless rates: Coles--3.6%, down from 3.7% one year earlier; Cumberland--2.8%, the same rate as one year earlier; Shelby--3.9%, up from 3.7%; Clay--5.1%, up from 4.3%; Fayette--4.0%, up from 3.8%; Jasper--3.4%, up from 3.1%.