Unemployment figures for May have been released for southeastern Illinois by the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Lawrence County had a jobless rate in May of 16.1%, down from 23.5% in April. Other surrounding counties also saw joblessness decline. Crawford County was at 10.6% in May down from 16% in April, Richland County at 11.5% in May down from 15.5% in April and Wabash County at 18.1% in May down from 24.5% in April. All the May unemployment rates for this year were still above the rates for 2019 due to the business shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic.