Unemployment Rates Up in January

Unemployment rates in area counties for January were much higher than one year earlier.

Effingham County's January jobless rate was 4.6%, up from 3.5% in January 2023.

Total nonfarm employment increased by 25 in January. 

Employment gains were posted in Government (275); Professional and Business Services (250); Trade-Transportataion-Utilities (100); Leisure and Hospitality (75); and Financial Activities (50)

Payroll totals were unchanged among employers in the Other Services; Information: and Natural Resources and Mining sectors.

Payroll job losses occurred among employers in Educational and Health Services (-300); Manufacturing (-275); and Construction (-125). 

Area counties are their January jobless rates: 

Coles--4.8%, up from 4.6% one year earlier

Cumberland--4.8%, up from 4.0%

Shelby--6.0%, up from 4.6%

Clay--6.3%, up from 5.1%

Fayette--6.4%, up from 5.6%

Jasper--5.5%, up from 4.4%