Wayne County’s unemployment rate for July came in at 4.8 percent. Unemployment is reported to be down across south-central Illinois for the month of July, and lower compared to a year ago. Edwards County does continue to show one of the higher rates for the area, at 8.7 percent. Hamilton County recorded a rate of 4.2 percent, and White County at 4.8 percent. Marion County’s rate was 4.2 percent, while Clay County recorded a 3.8 percent rate. Jefferson County had a July unemployment rate of 4.6 percent.
The lowest unemployment rate in the region was recorded in Clinton County, at 2.6 percent. Statewide the unemployment rate for July was 4.6 percent, a tenth of a percent lower compared to July of last year.