Wabash County’s run of having the lowest unemployment rate in southern Illinois continues. The latest figures from the Illinois Department of Employment Security show that the local jobless rate stood at 3.2%, up slightly from the 3.2% mark in April of last year. In the Olney-Mt. Carmel region, I-D-E-S reported total nonfarm employment contracted in April 2024 compared to April 2023. Payrolls increased among employers in the Private Education Health Services, Other Services, Mining-Natural Resources and Government sectors. In the region, employers in the Manufacturing, Leisure Hospitality, Financial Activities, Construction and Professional-Business Service sectors are estimated to have decreased payrolls over the last year. Other area rates included Edwards, White, and Richland Counties at 4.1% each; and Lawrence County was at 5.4%. While Wabash County had the lowest rate in southern Illinois in April, the dubious honor of the highest rate goes to Pulaksi County where the rate was 7.8%.