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Marion County’s unemployment rate jumped a staggering four points to 9.6 percent last month; but that number may not be as bad as it appears. Kerry Koonce with Iowa Workforce Development tells KNIA/KRLS News the “benchmark week” during the recording of unemployment data likely came during temporary shutdowns or rolling layoffs at the county’s major manufacturers, which would skew the information produced.

The latest figures from Iowa Workforce Development reported 1,710 unemployed workers in Marion County in August, up from 970 in July. Koonce adds that September’s numbers, which will be available October 21st, should level out and be a more accurate representation of the county’s unemployment situation.

Both the state and national unemployment rates rose three-tenths of a percent last month to 6.8 and 9.7 percent, respectively.