Iowa Workforce Development has announced the unemployment rates for each county from March to April and all 99 counties experienced increases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Washington County’s unemployment rate increased from 3.4% in March to 8.2% in April. In March there were 400 people unemployed in Washington County and that increased to 900 people in April. That is nearly four times the unemployment rate Washington County experienced in April of 2019.

Washington County is part of the Iowa City Metropolitan Statistical Area for employment and the MSA’s unemployment rate rose from 2.6% with 2,500 people unemployed in March up to 9.4% with 9,100 people unemployed last month.

County – March, April
Henry – 3.6, 11.6
Iowa – 3.3., 9.7
Jefferson – 2.8, 9.4
Johnson – 2.5, 9.6
Johnson – 2.5, 9.6
Keokuk – 4.6, 9.8
Louisa – 4.2, 11.0
Washington – 3.4, 8.2

State – 3.3, 10.2