While Iowa’s unemployment rate was at a meager 2.5 percent in August, it might have been even lower if it were not for the Marshall County unemployment hit took during the month. Between the tornado and store closings, Marshall County’s unemployment rate soared 1.9 percent to 5.5 percent, the highest in the state. Tama County’s unemployment rate grew two tenths of one percent to 3.1 in August, compared to 2017.

Lyon County in extreme Northwest Iowa posted the lowest unemployment rate in August at 1.3 percent.