Jobless Figures Higher Than Year Ago

One troubling sign in Illinois' economic recovery is the persistently high unemployment rate.

December 2013 jobless figures for Illinois counties have been released by the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

The Effingham County unemployment rate in December was 7.4%, up from 7.0% in December 2012.

Area counties, and their numbers:

Coles--8.7%, up from 8.0% in December 2012

Cumberland--9.8%, the same as one year previously

Shelby--9.7%, the same as one year earlier

Clay--11.2%, up from 10.8% in December 2012

Fayette--11.0%, up from 10.5% one year ago

Jasper---8.5%, slightly up from 8.4% in December 2012

The Illinois unemployment rate was higher than the national rate in December.  The state's jobless rate has historically been higher than the national rate.  Only six times since January 2000 has the state rate been lower than the national rate.