Des Moines, IA (Northwestiowanow.com) — Due to the government shutdown, the county unemployment rates for the month of Iowa are just now available from Iowa Workforce Development.

Cherokee County was the low spot in the region at 1.9 percent, down point 8 percent from August and point one percent from September of 2024.

Osceola stood at 2.9 percent, down point 6 percent for the month but point 3 percent HIGHER form the prior year.

O’Brien County’s jobless rate in September was 2.2 percent, even with 2024 and down point 8 percent from August.

Buena Vista and Palo Alto Counties were both at Two and a half percent. BV was down point 9 percent month over month but up point 1 percent year over year.

Palo Alto was half a percent lower for the month but up point 2 percent year over year.

Clay County: 2.8 percent, down point 7 percent for the month and down a full 1.8 percent from 2024 when the community was still recovering from the flood.

Dickinson County was 3 percent, down point 3 percent for the month and up point three percent for the year.

Emmet County had the highest unemployment rate in the broadcast area in Septembe at 4.1 percent, down point 4 percent from August but a full one percent higher than September of 2024.