The Illinois Department of Employment Security reports that unemployment is trending down from September to October across southeastern Illinois. The jobless rate in October in Lawrence County was at 4.7% down from 7.2% in September. Other surrounding counties also saw their rates drop-Richland County from 6.5% down to 4%, Wabash County from 5.9% down to 3.7% and Crawford County from 6.4% down to 3.9%. The IDES says that the improving unemployment picture in the area reflects that the state economy is continuing to slowly improve after being hit hard by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.