The unemployment rate in Washington County saw a slight increase from September to November, but the county still boasts one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state of Iowa. Numbers released by Iowa Workforce Development show Washington County’s unemployment rate at 2.1 percent in November, up from the 2 percent reported in September. 

Compared to November 2024, the unemployment rate in the county is down from 2.4 percent. Washington County is one of the few counties in southeast Iowa to have seen a decrease in unemployment over that time frame. Of the counties neighboring Washington, only Johnson County, at 2.4 percent, has seen a dip in its unemployment numbers. Jefferson (3.1), Iowa (2.9), Keokuk (3.2), and Louisa (3.3) counties have all seen a rise in unemployment over the year, while Henry County, at 3.1 percent, remains level.

The state of Iowa as a whole is reporting a 3.5 percent unemployment rate, a full percentage point lower than the nationwide number of 4.6 percent. There are no local unemployment area statistics for October due to the government shutdown.