Des Moines, IA (KICD) — January is the latest month for which local unemployment figures are available.
Osceola County was the only county to come in below 2 percent. They stand at 1.8 percent – the same as December and down from two point one percent in January of last year.

Buena Vista County is second lowest at 2.4 percent, same as last year but up point three percent from December. Joblessness in Pocahontas County was two and a half percent, up point one percent for the month and down point one percent from last year. Cherokee County reported 2.8 percent unemployment up point four percent for the month and down half a point from January last year. And O’Brien County was the other county below three percent at 2.9, down point one percent year over year and up point three percent month over month.

Palo Alto County’s unemployment rate to start the year was 3.1 percent, up from 2.4 percent in December and 2.9 percent a year prior. Clay County was 3.7 percent up from 3 percent even during the Christmas season and 3.6 percent one year ago.
Emmet county was 4.1 percent up a full percent from December and point one percent from January 2022. Dickinson county was highest in the KICD Broadcast area at 4.6 percent, up from 3.4 the prior month and 4.1 percent last year.