Unemployment worsening in the Illinois Valley

If the economy is improving you wouldn’t be able to tell by looking at the number of people receiving unemployment.  Jobless numbers for the Illinois Valley and surrounding counties were higher in January than they were the same time in 2012.

La Salle County’s unemployment rate in January was 13.5%, almost a full point higher than in 2012.  Bureau County unemployment was 12.1% and Putnam County’s was 13.6%, both an increase over January 2012.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security says the Ottawa-Streator area lost more than 300 retail job.  There were also losses in manufacturing and government.  200 jobs were added in transportation and warehousing.