Local unemployment rates amongst highest in the state

OTTAWA – Local unemployment rates rank amongst the highest in the state, according to the Illinois Department of Unemployment. Bureau, Putnam, LaSalle and Marshall county range in the highest unemployment rates locally. Currently, LaSalle’s unemployment rate is at 7.2 percent, a nearly 2 percent increase compared to last month. Bureau, Putnam and Marshall County rates increased by a percent, with Putnam and Marshall at 6 percent and Bureau and 6.2 percent. As previously reported by the Associated Press, state unemployment rates rose to 4.3 percent in December, a tenth of a percent increase compared to November.