The unemployment figures from the Illinois Department of Employment Security, Economic Information and Analysis Division came out last week. In that report, Illinois saw their unemployment rate go down to 4.2-percent. The united states number is at 3.7-percent this month. In our area, the lowest is once again Washington County, who tied for 1st in Illinois with the lowest unemployment, with a percentage of 2.7-percent. Clinton this month is at 3.2-percent, down by .2 from last month. The rest of our area went as followed, Randolph 4.0, Jackson 4.6, Marion 4.6, St. Clair 4.8-percent, Jefferson 5.0, Perry 5.8, and Franklin County at 5.8-percent. Washington and Clinton Counties are again ranked in the top 3 with the lowest unemployment figures. Washington and Brown are tied for 1st with 2.7-percent. Clinton is 3rd lowest with a number of 3.2-percent. 4th is Du Page County at a 3.3-percent clip, and 5th is a tie between McHenry, Monroe, and Cumberland at 3.4-percent. The top 5 highest unemployment numbers goes as followed… 5th is Alexander County at 6.5-percent, 3rd a tie between Massac and Pulaski Counties at 6.7-percent, 2nd goes to Johnson County at 7.1-percent, then Hardin County is rated the highest in unemployment with a percent of 7.4-percent. In total, 51-percent of counties in Illinois have an unemployment rate under 4.5-percent. Only 27-percent are higher than 5.0-percent, which is up from last month.