Wabash County’s unemployment rate edged up in July but is still tied for the lowest in southern Illinois. The Illinois Department of Employment Security reports that the July jobless rate in Wabash County stood at an even 4%, up 7-tenths of a percentage point from the 3.3% mark recorded in June. But despite the increase, the unemployment rate in Wabash County last month was still lower than the 4.6% figure in July of 2024.
The IDES reports that in the Mt. Carmel-Olney area, total nonfarm payrolls decreased by 175 jobs last month, compared to July 2024.
Employment gains were posted in Private Education-Health Services and Government. Year-over-year, payroll totals were unchanged among employers in Information, Natural Resources-Mining, Other Services and Professional-Business Services. Payroll job losses occurred among employers in the Leisure-Hospitality, Trade-Transportation-Utilities, Construction, Financial Activities and Manufacturing sectors. Wabash County’s jobless rate last month was tied with Richland County for the lowest in southern Illinois. The highest rate in the southern part of the state was in Alexander County at 7.3%.