The unemployment rate in Washington County ticked up during the month of December. According to information from the Illinois Department of Employment Security, the jobless rate in Washington County rose from 3.4 percent in November to 3.8 percent last month. The jobless rate has been steady since the summer, when it remained at 3.8 percent during the summer months. The rate fell through the autumn to 3.4 percent in November. In December of 2015, the jobless rate was 3.9 percent. Washington County has the second lowest unemployment rate in the state, trailing only Brown County’s mark of 3.5 percent. The only other county in Illinois with a jobless rate below four percent is Monroe County at 3.9 percent. Statewide, the not seasonally adjusted rate is 5.7 percent, up from 5.3 percent in November and trailing the national average of 4.5 percent. Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment increased by 28,400 jobs with the largest gains in two industry sectors: Professional and Business Services and Leisure and Hospitality.