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While the State of Iowa’s unemployment rate fell slightly from November to December, Washington County and many surrounding counties experienced increases in unemployment. Washington County’s increased from 2.5% to 2.9%, an increase of about 100 more people unemployed in December. All of Washington’s contiguous counties, except Jefferson County, also had increases.

County – November, December
Henry – 3.0, 3.4
Iowa – 2.4, 3.2
Jefferson – 3.6, 3.4
Johnson – 2.1, 2.4
Keokuk – 3.7, 3.9
Louisa – 3.3, 4.0
Washington – 2.5, 2.9

State – 3.8, 3.6