While the state unemployment rate rose slightly from February to March, rates in the area dropped. Iowa’s February rate was 4.4% unemployment while in March it was 4.5%. Washington County’s rate dropped from 5.1% to 4.8% unemployment, a difference of about 200 more people employed, according to Iowa Workforce Development. The nation’s unemployment rate remained at 6.7% during the same time period.

A break down of unemployment rates for the area by county is listed below.

County – February, March
Henry – 5.7, 5.2
Iowa – 6.0, 5.8
Jefferson – 5.6, 5.4
Johnson – 3.3, 3.2
Keokuk – 5.8, 5.7
Louisa – 5.8, 5.6
Washington – 5.1, 4.8
State of Iowa – 4.4, 4.5