Washington County’s unemployment rate fell from 4.3 percent in February to 3.7 percent in March.
Unemployment rates in the counties surrounding Washington also fell and the Iowa City metropolitan statistical area, or MSA, which includes Washington County, decreased to 2.7 percent.

In March, an estimated 500 people were unemployed in Washington County. Last week, Modine Manufacturing announced plans to close its Washington facility, which employs 245 people full time.

Counties – February rate, March rate
Henry – 4.7, 4.1
Iowa – 5, 4.5
Jefferson – 4.5, 4.1
Johnson – 2.9, 2.5
Keokuk – 5.3, 4.7
Louisa – 4.8, 4.4
Washington – 4.3, 3.7
State of Iowa – 4.1, 4.0