Des Moines, IA (Northwestiowanow.com) — January is the latest month for which we have county unemployment stats. Of the nine counties in the KICD Broadcast area:

* Osceola comes in lowest at 2.4 percent, up point one percent from December, and up point two percent from January of 2025.
* O’Brien County is at 2.8 percent, up point four percent for both the month and the year.
* BV … 2.9 percent, up point six percent for the month and down point two percent year over year.
* Cherokee County is also at 2.9 percent … up point 4 percent from December but down half a percent from a year ago.
* Palo Alto: 3.2 percent, up point three for the month and down point two for the year.
* Clay County stands a 3.3 percent unemployment. Up point 3 percent month over month and down point 3 percent from January of 2025.
* Pocahontas County is at 3 and a half, up point 3 for the month and point 1 percent lower from last year.
* The most recent number for Emmet County is 4.2 percent, up point 7 percent from the previous month and down point 2 percent for the year.
* And Dickinson County has the highest unemployment rate in the corridor at 4.2 percent. That’s up point 7 percent for the month but down point 6 percent year over year.