Unemployment up in area counties compared to 1 year ago

Unemployment rates in most local counties increased in October compared to one year earlier, according to recently released data.

Dubuque County’s unemployment rate was 3.1% in October, up from 2.8% in September and from 2.9% in October 2022, according to Iowa Workforce Development.

Elsewhere in the region, Clayton County’s unemployment rate was 3.2% in October, up from 2.9% in September and 2.6% a year ago. Delaware County’s rate was 2.6%, up from 2.2% in September and 2.0% a year ago. Jones County’s rate was 3.3%, up from 3.1% in September and 2.6% a year ago. Jackson County’s rate was 3.4%, up from 3.3% in September and 2.9% a year ago.

Statewide, Iowa’s unemployment rate was 3.2% in October, up from 3.0% in September and 3.1% a year ago.

In Wisconsin, Lafayette County’s unemployment rate in October again was the lowest in the state at 2.1%, according to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. The county’s unemployment rate was 2.3% in September and 2.6% in October 2022.

Crawford County’s unemployment rate was 3.2% in October, down from 3.6% in September and up from 3.0% in October 2022. Grant County’s rate was 3.0%, down from 3.1% in September and up from 2.7% a year ago. Iowa County’s rate was 2.4%, down from 2.7% in September and up from 2.0% a year ago.

Statewide, Wisconsin’s unemployment rate was 3.2% in October, up from 3.0% a year ago.

In Illinois, Jo Daviess County’s unemployment rate was 3.7% in October, down from 4.2% in September and up from 3.3% in October 2022.

Statewide, Illinois’ unemployment rate was 4.6% in October, unchanged from a year ago, according to the state’s Department of Employment Security.

The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.9% in October, up from 3.7% a year ago, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.