(Des Moines) Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 3.2 percent in June, unchanged from May and down from 3.5 percent one year ago. The U.S. unemployment rate declined to 4.2 percent.
The number of unemployed Iowans fell to 55,200 in June, down from 56,100 in May. Iowa’s labor force participation rate slipped slightly to 67.3 percent, while the number of working Iowans decreased by 1,700 to 1,674,300.
Iowa Workforce Development Executive Director Beth Townsend said the report reflects continued slow but stable growth, with employers adding 600 jobs overall in June and more than 58,000 job openings currently posted on IowaWORKS.gov.
Total nonfarm employment increased by 600 jobs, marking the fourth consecutive month of job growth and a gain of 7,800 jobs since February. Trade industries led the increase with 1,500 new jobs, while finance and insurance added 600. Manufacturing lost 1,000 jobs, and professional and business services declined by 700 jobs.
Over the past year, manufacturing experienced the largest employment decline, down 4,300 jobs. Transportation, warehousing and utilities lost 3,500 jobs, while professional and business services fell by 3,000. Education and health care added 4,500 jobs over the year, with construction gaining 1,700 jobs and finance and insurance adding 900.
