Unemployment rates dropped in all three counties in our primary coverage area last month.

According to Iowa Workforce Development, Dallas County’s unemployment rate decreased from 3 percent in June to 2.7 percent in July. Greene County saw a four tenths of a percent drop last month to 3.5 percent and Guthrie County’s unemployment rate decreased by two-tenths to 3.1 percent in July.

All three counties are fairing better now than they were a year ago when unemployment ranged from 3.4 percent in Dallas County, to 4.1 percent in Guthrie and 4.4 percent in Greene.

The statewide unemployment rate increased slightly last month to 3.8 percent, while the national unemployment rate in July was 5.3 percent.