Published on May 7, 2026 3:15 pm
Last Updated on May 7, 2026 3:16 pm
The Effingham County unemployment rate for March jumped to 4.5%, up from 3.2% in March 2025.
Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 275 jobs in March 2026 compared to a year ago. Employment gains were posted in Construction (+225), Manufacturing (+125), Government (+75) and Trade-Transportation-Utilities (+75). Year-over-year, payroll totals were unchanged among employers in Leisure-Hospitality and Professional-Business Services. Payroll job losses occurred among employers in the Private Education-Health Services (-100), Financial Activities (-50), Information (-50), Other Services (-50) and Natural Resources-Mining (-25) sectors.
March unemployment rates for area counties:
Clay County–5.2%, up from 4.7% in March 2025
Fayette County–6.1%, up from 4.5%
Jasper County–4.2%, up from 3.1%
Coles County–4.1%, up from 3.4%
Cumberland County–4.4%, up from 3.2%
Shelby County–4.6%, up from 3.7%.
The statewide jobless rate for March was 5.2%, up from 4.7%. The total number of jobs in the state in March was down 8,400.
