County Unemployment Rate for May Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels

Effingham County's unemployment rate for May was back to pre-pandemic levels.

The county jobless rate was 3.2%, compared to 13.5% in May 2020.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security said total nonfarm employment in the county in May was up 3,975 jobs compared to one year earlier.

Employment gains in the county were seen in Leisure and Hospitality, up 1,200; Educational and Health Care, up 950 jobs; Trade, Transportation and Utilities, up 575 jobs; Government, up 525 jobs; Other Services, up 225 jobs; Professional and Business Services, up 175 jobs; Construction, up 150 jobs; Manufacturing, up 150 jobs; Financial Activities, up 50 jobs; and Information, up 25 jobs.

Payrolls declined by 25 jobs in the Effingham Region in Natural Resources.

Jobless rates in area counties:

Coles--4.7%, compared to 11.9% one year earlier

Cumberland--3.4%, down from 9.3% a year ago

Shelby--3.6%, down from 11.6%

Clay--4.8%, down from 20.4% one year earlier

Fayette--4.2%, down from 12.8% a year earlier

Jasper--3.5%, down from 10.2% one year earlier.

Those numbers compare to the national jobless rate for May of 5.8%. The Illinois jobless rate of 5.8% for May was down from 15.4% one year earlier.