Washington County unemployment rate falls to 4.3% in October on higher employment

Washington County's unemployment rate fell by 0.2% to 4.3% in October , 2011. This decrease resulted from an increase in employment to 11,000.  In October 2010, unemployment was at 4.5%.

Unemployment rates in sourrounding counties was generally on the decline , with small decreases in labor force, decreases in the number of employed persons, and decreases in the number of unemployed persons.

Looking Further

Washington County's labor force held steady at 11,500, and the number of employed persons rose to 11,000.  Neighboring Johnson County had a slight expansion in labor force and in unemployed persons for a 4.9% unemployment rate.

Of the estimated 500 unemployed persons, 124 were drawing Unemployment Insurance benefits (down from 170 in September). Only 1/4 of unemployed persons are receiving Unemployment benefits. For 9 of those receiving Unemployment benefits, their last payment occurred in October, while 26 received their first Unemployment benefit payment (down from 28 in September).

The State of Iowa's unemployment rate held steady at 6.0% in October . Looking further, the number of unemployed persons in Iowa decreased

by 1,200, while the number of employed persons  decreased by 2,600 as the State's labor force contracted by 3,800.  The national unemployment rate fell to 9.0% from September into October.

State and County data is from the Labor Market and Economic Research Bureau of the Iowa Workforce Development. ?

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