Washington County’s unemployment rate increased in December, as did all of its neighboring counties’ rates. Iowa Workforce Development shows Washington County’s unemployment rate at 1.9% in November and increasing to 2.5% in December. The unemployment rate equals 300 people without jobs in Washington County. The Iowa City metropolitan statistical area, which includes Washington County, saw a drop in 1,300 jobs last month. Those jobs lost were in both the private sector and in government, with 200 of those being local government jobs and 500 from state government. Other losses included 300 jobs from goods producing, and then 100 each from leisure and hospitality, professional, and business services.

The state’s overall unemployment rate in December was 2.7%. The highest unemployment rate in December was 5.6% in Marshall County.

County – November rate, December rate
Henry – 2.4, 2.9
Iowa – 1.6, 2.3
Jefferson – 2.3, 2.6
Johnson – 1.8, 2.2
Keokuk – 2.6, 3.4
Louisa – 2.6, 3.4
Washington – 1.9, 2.5