Illinois’ unemployment rate continued to decline in August, dropping from 5.3% a year ago to 4.7% in 2025. The decrease reflects about 10,000 fewer unemployed individuals statewide compared to last August.
Wayne and Fayette counties saw the largest monthly increases in unemployment, both rising 0.4%. Effingham and Jasper counties posted the lowest rates in the region at 3.8%. Clay County’s unemployment rate edged down to 5.3%, a 0.1% drop from July.
In the Centralia-Mt. Vernon labor market, total nonfarm employment fell by 400 jobs compared to last August. Job gains were seen in private education and health services (+300), government (+100), and construction (+25). Losses occurred in trade-transportation-utilities (-325), manufacturing (-175), professional and business services (-100), other services (-75), and information (-25). Employment in financial activities and natural resources/mining held steady.
Nationally, the unemployment rate dipped to 4.5% in August, down 0.1% from July, while Illinois’ statewide rate stood slightly higher at 4.7%.
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