New figures show unemployment rates have improved across East Central Illinois. In Vermilion County the jobless rate fell from 7.1 percent in June to 6.5 percent in July. Danville’s 8.0 percent unemployment rate for July is down from June’s 8.7 percent.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security says the new numbers have not been seasonally adjusted.
In Vermilion County, non-farm employment increased by 800 compared to last July (2020). The Leisure-Hospitality sector gained 300 jobs compared to a year ago, while the Professional-Business Services sector reported a gain of 200 jobs. But Vermilion County lost 100 jobs in the Retail Trades category compared to its year-ago level.
Champaign County’s jobless rate was 5.2 percent last month, a drop of 4.1 percent from where it stood a year ago. In Edgar County the July jobless rate of 4.4 percent is down from 7.7 percent a year ago. And in Iroquois County the 4.3 percent unemployment rate for July was down 3 percent from July of 2020 (when the rate was 7.3 percent).
Champaign County’s non-farm employment increased by 4,000 compared to last July. There were 600 fewer jobs in the Retail Trade category in Champaign County this July compared to a year ago. However the county gained 2,000 jobs in its Government sector, 1,000 in the Leisure-Hospitality category, and 600 new jobs in the Educational-Health Services area.
