Published on December 16, 2025 3:23 pm
Last Updated on December 16, 2025 3:23 pm
Jobless rates were up in many area counties from year-ago figures in September.
The unemployment rate in Effingham County for September was 3.6%, up from 3.4% in September 2024.
As far as area counties, the Clay County rate was 4.9%, up from 4.7%…the Fayette County rate was 4.8%, up from 4.2%…the rate for Jasper County was 3.6%, up from 3.4%…the Coles County rate was 3.9%, up from 3.6%…Cumberland County’s jobless rate was 3.5%, up from 3.1%…and the Shelby County rate for September was 4.1%, up from 3.4%.
The statewide jobless rate for September was 4.3%, down from 4.7% one year earlier.
In the Effingham area, total nonfarm employment decreased by -75 jobs in September 2025 from a year earlier.
Employment gains were posted in Leisure-Hospitality (+275), Government (+75), Professional-Business Services (+75) and Natural Resources-Mining (+25).
Payroll job losses occurred among employers in the Private Education-Health Services (-150), Manufacturing (-125), Trade-Transportation-
