The United States’ unemployment rate decreased from 6.1% in April to 5.8% in May, but Iowa and counties in the KCII Radio-listening area all saw their rates go up in the last month.

April saw unemployment decrease for Washington and its contiguous counties, but it then rose for all counties in May. Jefferson had the highest unemployment rate at 4.1%, with Keokuk at 4%, Iowa at 3.9%, Johnson at 3.8%, Louisa at 3.7%, and Washington at 3.6%. Statewide unemployment ticked up slightly from 3.8% in April to 3.9% in May. The number of unemployed Iowans increased from 62,200 in April to 63,500 in May. In May of last year Washington County had 6.4% unemployment.