Unlike surrounding counties in southeastern Illinois, unemployment rose from October to November here in Lawrence County. That according to the latest monthly figures released by the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). The 5% rate for November in Lawrence County was up from the 4.7% figure for October. The November 2021 rate of 5% was still better than the 5.7% rate of 2020 for the county. Wabash, Richland, Edwards and Crawford counties all had drops in their jobless rates. The total nonfarm employment in November of 2021 did increase compared to 2020.