Perry County Jobless Rate 10.3%

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[November unemployment rates decreased in 17 of 21 counties in southern Illinois when compared to the previous year. Four counties had jobless rates in double digits. Alexander County had the highest rate at 11.5 percent, followed by Union County at 11 percent, Franklin County at 10.7 percent and Perry County at 10.3 percent.

The rates for November 2010 were 11.2 percent in Alexander County, 10.9 percent in Union County, 11.2 percent in Franklin County and 10.4 percent in Perry County.

The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and seeking employment. A person who exhausts benefits, or who is ineligible, will still be reflected in the unemployment rate if they actively seek work.

The national unemployment rate for September was 8.2 percent. The rate in Illinois was 9.4 percent.

At its peak in this economic cycle the adjusted rate in Illinois was 12.1 percent in January 2010.

"The overall trend of job growth and falling unemployment in our state against he national headwinds of an uneven recovery is progress that people can see," IDES Director Jay Rowell said. "Consumer confidence drives the economy. Positive momentum feeds that confidence and will help lead Illinois to a more consistent economic recovery."