A sign that the economy is definitely improving as we come out of the COVID pandemic, area unemployment rates are, for the most part, far below what they were just a year ago. Unemployment rates in Franklin County in February have dropped to 2.7%, that’s down from 4.8% in February of 2021. Surrounding counties, for the most part, show the same. Anderson County is at 2.1%, down from 3.7% a year ago. Miami County is at 2.7%, down from 4.4%, Osage County is at 2.9%, compared to 4.6% in 20321, Douglas County checks in at 2.5%, they were at 4.5% in February of last year and Linn County is down to 4.5% from 7.5% last year. Linn County currently has the highest unemployment rate of any County in the State.
With businesses scrambling to find workers to fill jobs. Some wonder how the unemployment rates can be so low. Labor Department officials say some people have just chosen not to go back to work yet, or have left the work force altogether and are no longer seeking unemployment.
