Wabash County began 2025 tied with Richland County with the lowest jobless rate in southern Illinois. According to the latest figures from the State’s Department of Employment Security, Wabash and Richland Counties both had 3.7% unemployment. For Wabash County, that number is the same as January of last year. For over a year, Wabash County has consistently had either the lowest southern Illinois rate or one of the lowest.
Other area rates declined in January including Lawrence County dropping to 4.9%; Edwards County down half a point to 4.1%; White County to 4.3%; and Wayne County fell to 4.4%. The statewide January rate stood at 5%.
