The local unemployment rate has gone up in the past year, according to data released by the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

The jobless rate in Vermilion County for May stood at 5.2 percent.  It was 4.7 percent a year ago.  The Champaign County rate was 3.7 percent, the same as last year.

The jobless rate in Danville stood at 5.9 percent, compared to 5.1 percent in May of 2022. The rate in Urbana was 3.8 percent, a slight increase from 3.7 percent last year.  The rate in the city of Champaign was 3.6 percent, identical to last year.

The good news is that the total number of jobs increased in all fourteen metropolitan areas for the year, according to the state.