Iowa Unemployment Rate Holds Steady at 3.2 Percent
Iowa Workforce Development reports a steady 3.2 percent unemployment rate for September despite a decline in the total number of working residents.
The unemployment rate in Iowa remained steady at 3.2 percent in September, marking the fifth consecutive month of stability. While this rate is slightly higher than the 3.1 percent recorded a year ago, it remains significantly lower than the national unemployment rate of 4.2 percent.
Iowa Workforce Development reported that the total number of employed residents fell by 4,100 in September to 1,665,500, while the number of unemployed residents rose to 55,700. The labor force participation rate also declined to 66.9 percent, a trend officials attribute to workers returning to education and an increase in retirements.
Despite the overall dip in employment, specific sectors saw historic growth. Employment in construction and health care reached the highest levels ever recorded, with health care adding 5,500 jobs and construction adding over 3,300 this year. Additionally, the accommodations and food services sector added 1,400 jobs in September.
Labor demand remains high across the state. Employers continue to seek candidates for more than 60,000 open positions currently listed on IowaWorks.gov, even as the state maintains a non-volatile labor force.
