Jobless 
rate holds steady: May numbers remain higher than this time last year

After improvement in April, unemployment remained steady in May for Whiteside and Lee counties, according to statistics released Thursday by the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

Whiteside County saw a slight uptick from 9.1 percent in April to 9.2 percent in May. Lee County saw a slight drop from 9.3 percent to 9.2 percent.

The numbers are still higher than a year ago when both counties had a 6.5 percent unemployment rate.

For the five counties in the Sauk Valley, the number of people with a job or actively looking for a job increased by 1,800 people. However, 300 more people are now considered unemployed.

Ogle County saw the biggest jump in its unemployment rate, watching it increase from 10.5 percent to 11.1 percent.

Bureau County saw a slight drop, from 9 percent in April to 8.8 percent unemployment in May.

Carroll County saw the biggest drop in unemployment, easing from 9.7 percent to 9.2 percent.

The Sauk Valley’s unemployment rate continues to be higher than the Quad Cities, which came in at 6.9 percent. Rockford, however, has a 13.4 percent.

Unemployment rates

County    May 2009    April 2009    May 2008

    Bureau    8.8 percent    9 percent    5.6 percent

    Carroll    9.2 percent    9.7 percent    7 percent

    Lee    9.2 percent    9.3 percent    6.5 percent

    Ogle    11.1 percent    10.5 percent    7.6 percent

    Whiteside    9.1 percent    9.2 percent    6.5 percent