Unemployment rates for the state of Iowa increased slightly in December, according to Iowa Workforce Development. In December the state’s unemployment rate was 3.2% with nearly 54,000 people unemployed. Washington County’s unemployment rate increased from 2.0% last December to 2.3% last month. The county with the highest unemployment rate last month was Marshall County at 6.4%. The county with the lowest unemployment rate was Sioux County at 1.7%, which is actually down from last year when it was 1.8%. 

The Iowa City metropolitan statistical area (MSA) saw a decrease of 900 positions between November and December, a decrease of nearly 1 percent. Iowa Workforce Development states the decline in employment happened with the loss of 500 jobs in state government employers and 400 positions among local government employers. There was also a decrease of 200 positions in the leisure and hospitality sectors.  Overall, the MSA gained 2,100 new positions in 2024, a 2 percent increase.