Slowly but surely, Wabash County’s unemployment rate is returning to pre-pandemic levels. The September jobless rate in Wabash County stood at 5.7% compared to 6.5% in August and the 3.5% mark in September of last year. Wabash County’s 5.7% was second only to Hamilton County’s 5.2% rate for the lowest in southern Illinois. The highest southern Illinois rate was 9.8% in Alexander and Pulaski counties. 

Olney - Mt. Carmel Area

Sep 2020 Sep 2019 Over the Year Change

Edwards County 6.3% 3.7 % 2.6

Lawrence County 7.1 % 4.7 % 2.4

Richland County 6.5 % 3.7 % 2.8

Wabash County 5.7 % 3.5 % 2.2

Wayne County 6.4 % 4.3 % 2.1

Olney – Mt. Carmel Area

Total nonfarm employment decreased by -925 compared to September 2019.

Employment gains were posted in Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+50).

Employment declined in Manufacturing (-275), Leisure and Hospitality (-250), Government (-150), Other Services (-125), Educational and Health Services (-125), Financial Activities (-25), and Professional and Business Services (-25). No employment changes were reported in Natural Resources & Mining, Construction and Information.

Note: Monthly 2019 unemployment rates and total nonfarm jobs for Illinois metro areas were revised in February and March 2020, as required by the U.S. BLS. Comments and tables distributed for prior metro area news releases should be discarded as any records or historical analysis previously cited may no longer be valid.