Area unemployment holds steady for January

Local unemployment rates held up well for January as fears set in about where unemployment will go in the coming months.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security announced that Knox County had 4.8 percent unemployment for the month of January, 2.4 percent better than January 2019.

That’s pretty even with December’s numbers, just a tenth of a percent off.

IDES also adjusted December’s Knox County labor force up an additional 100 workers from preliminary numbers.

Through the entire state manufacturing jobs are on the decline, shrinking 2.4 percent over the year, and 1.3 percent over the month.

Those losses were somewhat offset by a 2 percent decline in what’s already a massive industry for the state; education and health services.

Most neighboring counties held steady as well.

Warren, Henry, Rock Island barely moved, but Fulton County went up a half percent and Mercer and Henderson shot up almost a full point.

Across Illinois unemployment dropped in 13 of 14 Metro areas year-over-year, in fact, the Knox County area saw one of the biggest drops; 2.1 percent.

Jobs were lost over the year in sectors that include professional and business services, manufacturing and construction.

Jobs were created in financial services, education, and health, hospitality and government.

Recommended Posts

Loading...