Unemployment rates in Washington County and surrounding counties remained steady from October to November according to Iowa Workforce Development. Washington’s October unemployment rate was 2.3 percent and it increased slightly to 2.4 percent. The county with the highest unemployment rate in the state in November was Marshall County at 4.8 percent.
The Iowa City metropolitan statistical area had employment rise by 1,500 positions over the year, an increase of 1.4 percent. Those increases were with 500 added positions in service-providing establishments; more than 300 positions in trade, transportation and utilities; and over 100 positions in accommodation and food services; government employment added 1,000 positions with the state government employers adding 1,100 positions and local government establishments paring 100 positions.
