Perry County Has Third Highest Jobless Rate in Southern Illinois

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ The December statistics released by the Illinois Department of Employment Security show that 15 counties in southern Illinois had a jobless rate equal to or greater than 10 percent.

Compared to a year ago, the unemployment rate has increased in all 21 southern Illinois counties.

Franklin County lead with 14.1 percent, followed by Hardin County at 13.0 percent and Perry County at 12.8 percent.

The December not-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 11.1 percent in Illinois and 10.0 percent in the nation. The seasonally adjusted rate for December is 11.1 percent in Illinois, up .2 percent from the previous month.

"A prolonged national recession notable for its stubborn job growth continues to pressure our local economies and change our local landscapes," IDES Director Maureen O'Donnell said. "A positive way to meet that change is to identify and obtain skills that will be in demand when this national recession relents and job growth returns to Illinois."

Below are the unemployment rates for local counties and areas:

December 2009 2008

Alexander County 10.3% 8.5%

Jackson County 7.9% 6.1%

Massac County 9.3% 7.7%

Perry County 12.8% 11.0%

Pulaski County 11.1% 9.6%

Randolph County 9.9% 7.8%

Union County 12.4% 9.8%

Franklin County 14.1% 9.9%

Johnson County 11.2% 8.8%

Williamson County 10.0% 7.5%

Gallatin County 10.9% 9.3%

Hamilton County 9.7% 8.2%

Hardin County 13.0% 9.6%

Pope County 11.4% 8.8%