State figures show that one in about 21 people in LaSalle, Bureau, and Putnam counties who wanted jobs last month didn’t have them. The Illinois Department of Employment Security says the unemployment rate for the region was 4.7%, up from 4.6% in November. The LaSalle County rate was 4.8%, up from 4.7%. Bureau County’s was 4.4%, up from 4.2%. And Putnam County’s was 5.1%, up from 4.4%.
The previous year December rates were 4.5% for all three counties, 4.7% for LaSalle, 4.1% for Bureau, and 3.9%. for Putnam. Over the year, there were job losses in trade, transportation, utilities, education and health services, and professional-business services. Job gains were in government and the leisure-hospitality areas.