As the year draws to a close, Wabash County’s jobless remains one of the lowest in southern Illinois.
According to the November unemployment figures from the state’s department of employment security, the local rate went from 3.5% in October to 3.3% last month, which is also down from the 4.6% mark in November of 2020. In the Mt. Carmel-Olney area, total non-farm employment remained stable with no payroll changes reported compared to November 2020.Employment gains were posted in Government, Leisure and Hospitality, and Educational and Health Services. Employment declined in Manufacturing, and Construction (-25).
No employment changes were reported in Natural Resources and Mining, Professional and Business Services, Financial Activities, Information, and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities. Wabash County’s November jobless rate was just two-tenths of a point behind the lowest in southern Illinois which was Hamilton County at 3.1%. The highest rate in southern Illinois was again in Pulaski County at 7%.