County jobless rate up for November

Local

December 27, 2009

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — The unemployment rate in Jefferson County climbed by .2 percent in November, coming in at 10.8 percent.

The state unemployment rate was slightly higher than the county at 10.9 percent in November, after being seasonally adjusted.

“Today’s preliminary report reflects the slight up-and-down movement common in a national recession and should not be used to predict the future,” stated Illinois Department of Employment Security Director Maureen O’Donnell. “Past experience in Illinois suggests that signs of an economic recovery first will be felt elsewhere in the nation before significant job growth appears here at home.”

In November, Jefferson County reported a 10.8 percent unemployment rate, compared to Washington County at 8.4 percent, Hamilton County at 9.9 percent; Wayne County at 10 percent; Perry County at 12.6 percent; Marion County at 13.6 percent; and Franklin County at 14 percent.

In November, 2008, Jefferson County had a 7.2 percent unemployment rate compared to a 6.9 percent unemployment rate in October 2008. Last month, the county reported a 10.6 percent unemployment rate. Jefferson County was ranked 37 out of 102 counties in the state for unemployment, going higher than the year before, when Jefferson County was ranked at 46 in the state. However, from October to November, Jefferson County was ranked lower, at 44.

Nationally, the unemployment rate declined in November, coming in at 10 percent, a difference of .1 percent.

Unemployment rankings for surrounding counties and comparisons to last year are: Washington County, ranked at 88, compared to 67 ranking last year and a 6.4 percent unemployment rate in November 2008; Hamilton County, ranked at 58, compared to a 56 ranking last year and a 6.9 percent unemployment rate; Wayne County, ranked at 55, compared to a 52 ranking last year and a 7 percent unemployment rate; Perry County, ranked at 13, compared to a 3 rank last year and a 10.2 percent unemployment rate; Marion County, ranked at 11 compared to a 6 ranking last year and a 10 percent rate; and Franklin County, ranked number 4, the same ranking it held a year ago, with a 10.1 percent unemployment rate.

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