Published: November 25, 2006 12:05 am         

Effingham Co.’s jobless rate near lowest in region

Unemployment rates throughout south-central Illinois continue to plummet, according to statistics released Friday by the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

Effingham County’s unemployment rate of 3.3 for October is well below the October 2005 jobless rate of 4.8 percent. The 3.3 percent rate is lower than that of all but two of the 18 counties in the south-central region extending from Douglas County in the north to Jefferson County in the south.

Other area counties have fared equally well, according to the IDES. Jobless rates in all six area counties are lower than a year ago, ranging from 3.5 percent in Cumberland County —down from 4.3 percent last October — to 5.3 percent in Marion County, down from 5.6 percent last year.

October unemployment rates in other area counties include 4.9 percent in Fayette County, down from 5.4 percent a year ago; 3.6 percent in Shelby County, down from 4.3 percent; 4.2 percent in Clay County, down from 5 percent; and 3.9 percent in Jasper County, down from 4.8 percent.

Labor market economist Dennis Hoffman said seasonal swings continued to benefit the area.

“Retail trade, eating and drinking establishments and wholesale trade firms continued to increase employment for the end of the year upturn in business,” Hoffman said. “Favorable weather conditions enabled construction activity to remain at significant levels throughout the region.”

Hoffman added that employment gains also were recorded in the professional-business service, education-health service and financial activity sectors.

Bill Grimes can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 132 or bgrimes@effinghamdailynews.com