Marion County started off the year with an increase in the unemployment rate according to the latest numbers from Iowa Workforce Development.
Marion County’s rate in January was 4.4 percent, up from 3.6 in December. Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 4.2 percent in January from 4.3 percent in December. Director of Iowa Workforce Development Beth Townsend says several sectors continue to be at or near all-time highs in employment, including construction and financial services.