There was a surge in unemployment rates in the local area from December to January. The Illinois Department of Employment Security says it climbed from 6.3% to 8.5% in LaSalle County. The Bureau County change was 5.3% to 7.3%. In Putnam County, it was 5.1% in December and then 7.2% in January. Combining the three counties, the rate climbed from 6.1% to 8.2%. Grundy County, which is in a different statistical area, had an increase from 7.1% to 8.3%.
Unemployment surged from December to January
