Iowa’s unemployment rate increased to 3.1 percent in November, with the state’s labor force participation rate rising to 66.3 percent. The influx of new workers led to a total of 53,000 unemployed Iowans, with 1,600 individuals entering the labor force in search of a job. Despite this increase in the number of job seekers, Iowa employers added 400 jobs in November, primarily within public schools, leisure and hospitality, and manufacturing sectors.
The private industry shed 1,100 jobs, while government added a total of 1,500 jobs. Leisure and hospitality led in job gains, while professional and business services and trade and transportation sectors experienced losses. Compared to a year ago, total nonfarm employment is up 4,000 jobs, with health care and social assistance and leisure and hospitality industries showing the most growth.
Executive Director of Iowa Workforce Development, Beth Townsend, expressed optimism for Iowa’s economic stability and growth, encouraging more hiring and increased growth in the workforce following the recent election.
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