Local unemployment rates spike

 
CHICAGO – Local unemployment rates increased by 1% or more as 2019 came to a close. According to the Illinois Department of Employment and Security, during December, LaSalle County’s unemployment rate increased by a percentage, now at 5.3%. Bureau County falls right under LaSalle at 5.1% compared to 4% in the previous month. Putnam made the biggest increase and the highest locally at 5.7% compared to 3.9% in November. On a state-wide level, unemployment is at 3.7%.