Area's unemployment situation improved in September
The unemployment rate in six of 11 East Central Illinois counties went down in September, the state Department of Employment Security reported.
That was a switch from August, when the unemployment rate went up in every area county save one.
Champaign County's rate was 8.2 percent in September, down from 8.5 percent in August. Vermilion County's rate also dropped, from 12.1 percent in August to 12 percent in September.
Other area counties experiencing drops in September included:
– Coles, 9.1 percent, down from 9.5 percent.
– Ford, 10.4 percent, down from 10.6 percent.
– Moultrie, 9 percent, down from 9.7 percent.
– Piatt, 8.2 percent, down from 8.6 percent.
Experiencing increases in the monthly rate were:
– DeWitt, 9.2 percent, up from 9 percent.
– Douglas, 9.1 percent, up from 9 percent.
– Edgar, 10.7 percent, up from 10.2 percent.
– Iroquois, 10 percent, up from 9.7 percent.
McLean County's unemployment rate was unchanged from August, at 7.4 percent.
A year ago, Champaign County's unemployment rate stood at 5.7 percent, and Vermilion County's was 8.4 percent.
Over the past year, the largest declines in Champaign County employment came in the manufacturing, construction and information sectors. In Vermilion County, notable declines were reported in manufacturing, leisure-hospitality, retail trade and professional-business services.
In Champaign County, 8,787 people were out of work and looking for a job in September, the department said. Meanwhile, 98,395 county residents were employed.
In Vermilion County, 4,499 people were unemployed and seeking work in September. An estimated 33,125 residents were holding down a job.
Among area cities, Danville had the highest unemployment rate – 12.9 percent in September, down from 13.7 percent in August. Champaign's rate dropped from 8.5 percent to 8.1 percent, and Urbana's fell from 8.6 percent to 8.2 percent.
Among the 12 metropolitan areas in Illinois, Champaign-Urbana had the third-lowest unemployment rate and Danville had the fourth-highest. The highest rate was Rockford's 15.2 percent, and the lowest was Bloomington-Normal's 7.4 percent. Springfield was second-lowest at 7.9 percent.
Among counties statewide, those with the highest unemployment rates in September were: Winnebago, 15.5 percent; Putnam, 15 percent; Franklin, 14.6 percent, and Mason, 14.3 percent.
Winnebago is in northern Illinois, Franklin in southern Illinois, and Putnam and Mason in central Illinois.
Those with the lowest rates were the western Illinois counties of Brown (4.5 percent) and Schuyler (6.6 percent).
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- Hospitals masking visitors as safety measure
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- Obituaries