Washington County’s unemployment rate dropped slightly from September to October. In September 2.9 percent of Washington County’s population was unemployed and it fell to 2.8 percent in October. Washington County’s rate in October was below the state of Iowa’s 3.6 percent rate and the nation’s rate of 5.1 percent. Henry, Iowa, Johnson and Louisa counties also had slight declines.

Ten of Iowa’s 99 counties had unemployment rates above four percent in October, the highest in the state in October was in Wapello County at 5.8 percent.

County – September, October unemployment rates
Henry – 3.8%, 3.4%
Iowa – 3.0%, 2.8%
Jefferson – 3.6%, 3.6%
Johnson – 2.5%, 2.3%
Keokuk – 3.8%, 3.9%
Louisa – 3.5%, 3.2%
Washington – 2.9%, 2.8%
State of Iowa – 3.6%, 3.5%