The unemployment rate continues to fall according to the latest report from the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Director Jeff Mays says the unemployment rate is down to near record lows across the state. Looking closer at southern Illinois, area employers advertised for about 2,300 positions in July and more than 77 percent sought full time employment. In southeastern Illinois, Edwards County leads the way with an unemployment rate of just 3.8%. White and Hamilton Counties are just behind with flat 4%. Richland and Wabash Counties also have numbers in the low 4’s. Wayne County sports a 5.4%. The Gallatin County unemployment number is at 5.9% while Saline County is at 6.7%. Hardin County has the highest number in our region with an 8.2%. Only Alexander County in far southern Illinois has a higher unemployment rate across southern Illinois at 8.8%
