New numbers are out showing the unemployment rate in Vermilion County continued to rise last month. But the 7.1 percent rate is up only slightly from June’s 6.8 percent figure. And the county’s unemployment rate is down two-tenths of a percent from where it stood a year ago.
In Danville the 8.7 percent unemployment rate in July was up nearly a half-percent from June.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security says Champaign County’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.8 percent. In Iroquois County the July jobless rate of 4.2 percent was up a tenth of a percent from June. And in Edgar County the unemployment rate rose slightly last month, climbing from 4.8 to 5.0 percent.
In Vermilion County the report shows non-farm employment decreased by 400 from its level one year ago. There were no job gains reported in any of the industrial sectors in Vermilion County over the year. Meanwhile, the Government sector in Vermilion County lost 200 jobs over the year. Jobs in the Construction sector fell by 100, and the Financial Activities sector also lost 100 jobs over the year (since July of 2016).
The ‘Help Wanted’ signs are out across Vermilion County. The U.S. Department of Labor says area employers advertised for 4,900 positions in July, and about 81 percent sought full-time employees according to data compiled by the Conference Board. The Conference Board is a global, independent business membership and research association. Abundant employment opportunities were being offered across the East Central Illinois Region in Health Care, Sales, and Transportation this summer. Numerous other job openings were reported in Education, Computer Management, Food Service, and Health Care Support. And those are just a few of the areas where jobs are available for people who have the proper skills across our region.
