County sees another drop in unemployment in May

Unemployment in Jefferson County dropped from 6.3 in April to at 6.1 percent in May.

According to Iowa Workforce Development figures, in April, the county had a labor force of 7,730, with 7,240 employed and 490 unemployed. In May, the county had a labor force of 7,710, with 7,240 employed and 470 unemployed.

The Iowa Workforce Development figures show a decrease in unemployment in Van Buren County from 5.8 percent in April to 5.6 percent in May.

In April, Van Buren County had a labor force of 3,800, with 3,580 employed and 220 unemployed. In May, the county had a labor force of 3,790, with 3,580 employed and 210 unemployed.

Unemployment numbers in nearby Henry County decreased from 7.0 percent in April to 6.4 percent in May, and in Washington County, unemployment decreased from 4.3 percent in April to 4.0 percent in May.

The county employment numbers are not seasonally adjusted.

Iowa?s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 5.1 percent in May. The state?s jobless rate compared favorably with the same month one year ago when the rate was 6.0 percent.  Meanwhile, the U.S. unemployment rate rose slightly in May to 8.2 percent from 8.1 percent in April.