Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained the same from July to August at 2.5%. Washington County’s shifted slightly from 2.3% to 2.1%. In August of 2018, Washington County’s unemployment rate was 2.2%. At this time the highest unemployment rates in the state can be found in southeastern Iowa. Des Moines County is at 4.2% unemployment and Lee County is at 4.7% in August.

Across the state, construction led all sectors with the addition of 1,000 jobs. After job losses two months in a row the financial activities sector added 800 jobs. However, this sector is still down 700 jobs annually.

County – July rate, August rate
Henry – 2.8, 2.8
Iowa – 2.0, 1.7
Jefferson – 2.7, 2.9
Johnson – 2.3, 2.1
Keokuk – 2.9, 3.1
Louisa – 2.8, 3.1
Washington – 2.3, 2.1