Recent job numbers released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Illinois Department of Employment Security show that between December 2016 and December 2017, the state added almost 38,000 jobs.

IDES’ Public Information Officer Bob Gough says those numbers are promising for the state.

The unemployment rate dropped by more than one percent in Christian, Shelby, and Montgomery Counties over the past year. Gough says although population loss may be a factor, he says the job gain numbers should provide encouragement for the region.

Montgomery County’s unemployment rate is at 5-point-4 percent as of December, 2017, while Christian County sits at 4-point-9 percent and Shelby County sits at 4-point-5 percent.