Des Moines, IA (Northwestiowanow.com) — Some of the lowest unemployment rates in the state of Iowa for the month of May were in Northwest Iowa. In fact, Osceola County had the lowest rate in the state at 1.8 percent, up .3 percent from April and down half a percent from May of last year.

O’Brien County: 2 percent. +.2 percent for the month / -.6 percent from last year.
Cherokee County: 2 percent. +.1 percent for the month / -.4 percent from last year.
Palo Alto County: 2.1 percent. +.1 percent for the month / – .5 percent from last year.
Buena Vista County: 2.4 percent. -.3 percent for the month / -.5 percent from last year.
Clay County: 2.5 percent. +.3 percent for the month / -.6 percent from last year.
Dickinson County: 2.6 percent. +.3 percent for the month / -.2 percent from last year.
Pocahontas County: 2.9 percent. +.5 percent for the month / -.5 percent from last year.

Once again Emmet County had the highest jobless rate in the KICD Broadcast area at 3.1 percent in May, up .4 percent from April and dead event with May of 2025.