[simage=1238,400,y,center]
The unemployment rate in Marion County increased to 8.7 percent for the month of February. The increase marked the second consecutive month that the county recorded a significant increase.

Kerry Koonce of Iowa Workforce Development says the increase is likely due to the combination of a reduction of jobs in the manufacturing sector, combined with more people entering the workforce. Koonce adds that those trends are likely to level out in the future and expects Marion County’s unemployment rate to decrease in the coming months.

The county’s 8.7 percent unemployment rate compares to the statewide average of 6.7 percent for the month of February, and a national average of 9.7 percent.

Tags: , , ,