Between November and December 2010, the unemployment rate in Story County remained steady, according to the Labor Market and Economic Research Bureau and Iowa Workforce Development.

The total labor force dropped by 600 people, from 49,900 in November to 49,300 in December (figures are rounded to nearest thousand). Also, the total number of people employed in Story County dropped by 700 people, from 47,800 in November to 47,100 in December.

This left unemployment numbers at 2,200 in both months.

Story County stayed in the lower half of unemployment rates in the state at 4.5.

The highest in the state were counties Lee and Fort Madison-Keokuk with unemployment rates of 10.1 each.

The lowest in the state were Lyon County with an unemployment rate of 3.4 and Iowa City county, whose rate was 3.6. 

Overall, the Story country’s unemployment rate was 9.1 in December.