Lower unemployment rates in March for area counties

SPRINGFIELD – Unemployment rates in North Central Illinois eased for the month of March according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security. In February, LaSalle County had the third highest unemployment rate in the state at 6.6%. Currently, the county is seeing lower rates at 5.9%. Bureau and Putnam County experienced lower rates as well averaging 5.4%. The statewide unemployment rate is slightly down at 4.4%.