Franklin & Perry County Have Highest Unemployment in State

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The August statistics released by the Illinois Department of Employment Security show that 13 counties in southern Illinois had a jobless rate equal to or greater than 10 percent.

Franklin County lead with 15 percent, followed by Perry County with 12.3 percent and Hardin County with 12.2 percent.

Pope County was the only one to show a decrease in unemployment from the previous year. The rate there went from 10.4 percent in August 2008 to 10.3 percent in August 2009.

"The numbers reflect the enduring nature of this recession and show why it is important for workers to compare their job skills to the evolving job market," IDES Director Maureen O'Donnell said. "This recession will end. Now is the time for workers to leverage our training and career counseling services so they can be part of the turnaround from the very beginning."

Below are the unemployment rates for local counties and areas:

August 2009 August 2008

Carbondale Area

Alexander County 11.9% 10.1%

Jackson County 7.6% 6.8%

Massac County 9.0% 8.1%

Perry County 12.3% 10.9%

Pulaski County 11.9% 11.4%

Randolph County 9.5% 7.5%

Union County 11.0% 9.1%

Marion Area

Franklin County 15.0% 12.3%

Johnson County 10.9% 9.3%

Williamson County 9.8% 8.5%

Harrisburg Area

Gallatin County 10.6% 9.4%

Hamilton County 9.9% 7.3%

Hardin County 12.2% 12.0%

Pope County 10.3% 10.4%

Saline County 10.8% 10.0%

White County 8.3% 7.3%

Olney-Mt. Carmel Areas

Edwards County 8.7% 7.3%

Lawrence County 10.0% 9.8%

Richland County 10.1% 8.0%

Wabash County 10.4% 9.4%

Wayne County 9.8% 7.2%