The unemployment rate in Washington County saw a slight increase from November to December. Numbers released by Iowa Workforce Development show Washington County’s unemployment rate at 2.5 percent in December, up from the 2.1 percent reported in November. 

Compared to the previous December, the unemployment rate in the county is up from 2.3 percent. 

Of the counties neighboring Washington County, Keokuk and Jefferson counties have seen a dip in unemployment numbers from November to December. Keokuk County is currently at 3.2 percent compared to 3.3 percent a year ago, and Jefferson is at 3 percent compared to 3.1 percent a year ago. Louisa County had an increase from 3.3 percent in November to 3.9 percent in December. 

The State of Iowa as a whole is reporting a 3.5 percent unemployment rate, nearly a full percentage point lower than the nationwide number of 4.4 percent.