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 up by .9-percent, to now 5.0-percent. The united states number went up as well by .3-percent, so its now at 4.2-percent. In our area, the lowest is once again Washington County with a number of 2.9-percent. Clinton County saw their unemployment rate at 3.0-percent. The rest of our area goes as followed…Randolph 3.7-percent, Jackson 4.1-percent, Marion 4.3, St. Clair 4.3-percent, Jefferson County 4.6-percent, Perry 5.2 and Franklin County was the highest in our area with 5.4-percent unemployed. Washington and Clinton Counties are again ranked in the top 5 with the lowest unemployment figures. Brown once again was the lowest in Illinois at 2.4-percent, then Washington 2.9, Clinton and Du Page 3rd at 3.0-percent, then McHenry and Monroe tied at 5th with 3.1-percent unemployed. The top 5 highest unemployment numbers goes as followed… 4th a tie between Massac and Alexander at 6.2-percent, Pulaski 3rd at 6.3-percent and tied for 1st is Johnson and Hardin, with rated the highest rate of unemployment in Illinois at 6.6-percent. In total, 67-percent of counties in Illinois have an unemployment rate under 4.5-percent.