• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Tuesday, July 5, 2022
The Iowa Torch
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
The Iowa Torch
The Iowa Torch
No Result
View All Result
Home State Government

Iowa’s Unemployment Rate Drops to 3.9 percent in October

Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 3.9 percent in October, down from 4.0 percent in September and 4.2 percent one year ago.

Iowa TorchbyIowa Torch
November 20, 2021
in State Government
Reading Time: 2 mins read
Iowa’s New Unemployment Rate Holds Steady, Overall Rates Rise

DES MOINES, Iowa – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 3.9 percent in October, down from 4.0 percent in September and 4.2 percent one year ago. The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 4.6 percent.

RELATED POSTS

Reynolds to ask Iowa Courts to reconsider recent abortion rulings

Post Roe, state elected officials pledge abortion debate in Iowa

Iowa Supreme Court rules there is no right to abortion in state constitution

The number of unemployed Iowans decreased to 64,700 in October from 66,200 in September.

The total number of working Iowans increased to 1,596,200 in October. This figure is 1,600 higher than September and 34,800 higher than one year ago.

ADVERTISEMENT

The labor force participation rate remained steady at 66.8 percent.

“In October, Iowa saw net employment growth for the fifth time in the last six months,” said Beth Townsend, Director of Iowa Workforce Development. “Our key challenge remains helping increase the number of applicants employers receive for each opening and getting people who have left the labor market during the pandemic back into the workforce. We are hopeful that our new Reemployment Case Management system will help address both of those issues and significantly reduce the amount of time someone is without a job.”

Seasonally Adjusted Nonfarm Employment

Iowa businesses added 1,000 jobs in October, lifting total nonfarm employment to 1,539,900 jobs. This increase marks the second consecutive gain following a drop in August, and the fifth job increase in the last six months. A total of 22,300 jobs have been added since April. Private industries expanded by 2,000 jobs and were fueled by trade. Conversely, government shed 1,000 jobs driven mostly by local government cutbacks – yet remains up 2,500 jobs versus last October. Overall, Iowa businesses are up 27,200 jobs beyond the level established one year ago, a gain of 1.8 percent.

Retail trade added the most jobs in October, gaining 1,500 jobs versus September. This gain is now the fifth consecutive for retail trade with 4,500 jobs added during that span. The largest gains were within food and beverage stores along with general merchandise retailers. Combined, the trade, transportation, and utilities supersector increased by 2,000 jobs compared to September. Education and health care services gained 700 jobs, fueled mostly by increased hiring in health care and social assistance, which has now added jobs in four consecutive months, gaining 2,500 jobs during that span. Prior to that, health care and social assistance pared jobs in each of the first six months of 2021. Manufacturing gained 400 jobs, fueled by durable goods factories hiring. Smaller gains this month included information (+300) and other services (+100). Jobs losses this month occurred in construction (-500), which has now lost jobs in three consecutive months and six of the last seven months. Professional and business services decreased by 500 jobs with losses being strongest in professional, scientific, and technical services, along with administrative support and waste management services. Finally, leisure and hospitality lost 500 jobs, as firms prepare for less business as winter weather approaches.

Over the past twelve months, leisure and hospitality has added the most jobs (+12,500). Despite the strong annual gains, this sector has trended down over the past three months, shedding 2,800 jobs. Smaller job gains included manufacturing (+7,600) and retail trade (+4,100). Annual job losses have been relatively light and limited to construction (-3,000); transportation, warehousing, and utilities (-1,100); and administration support and waste management (-1,100).

Tags: Beth TownsendIowa Workforce DevelopmentIowa's Unemployment Rate
ShareTweetShare
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Iowa to Launch New Human Trafficking Prevention Initiative in January

Next Post

Woods: Safe Driving is as Simple as ABC

Iowa Torch

Iowa Torch

The Iowa Torch​ is a for-profit, news organization that focuses on political news as it relates to Iowans.

Related Posts

Unemployed, Injured Workers Will See Increase in State Benefits
State Government

Iowa rebounds from pandemic unemployment numbers

May 24, 2022
Unemployed, Injured Workers Will See Increase in State Benefits
State Government

Bill passed in Iowa Legislature reduces unemployment benefits to 16 weeks

March 25, 2022
Despite workforce gains, Iowa’s hospitality industry still lacks help
News

Despite workforce gains, Iowa’s hospitality industry still lacks help

March 15, 2022
Unemployed, Injured Workers Will See Increase in State Benefits
State Government

Iowa Sees Significant Drop in Unemployment Insurance Spending

January 27, 2022
Reynolds Launches New Teacher and Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship
Education

Reynolds Launches New Teacher and Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship

January 13, 2022
Iowa’s Leisure and Hospitality Industry Leaders Say November Job Gains Fall Short
State Government

Iowa’s Leisure and Hospitality Industry Leaders Say November Job Gains Fall Short

December 21, 2021
Next Post
Woods: Safe Driving is as Simple as ABC

Woods: Safe Driving is as Simple as ABC

Iowa Dept. of Cultural Affairs Presents the 10th Annual Celebrate Iowa Gala

Iowa Dept. of Cultural Affairs Presents the 10th Annual Celebrate Iowa Gala

Sign-Up For Our Daily Updates

Get The Iowa Torch right in your inbox!

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Recommended Articles

Reynolds Appoints Meghan Corbin as District Court Judge

Reynolds Appoints Stacy Ritchie as District Court Judge

September 3, 2021

Hinson Seeks to Restore Trump’s Deregulatory Agenda

April 13, 2021
Iowa’s Electors Cast Electoral College Vote

Iowa’s Electors Cast Electoral College Vote

December 14, 2020

Popular Stories

  • Schultz: Governor Highlights Successes in Western Iowa

    Reynolds to ask Iowa Courts to reconsider recent abortion rulings

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Iowa employers say attracting a quality workforce is a top priority

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Axne attacks Nunn in first campaign ad

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Several Republican incumbent lawmakers lose primaries

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Bill Gustoff Announces Campaign for Iowa House District 40

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

The Iowa Torch

The Iowa Torch​ is a for-profit, news organization that focuses on political news as it relates to Iowans

Categories

  • Education
  • Federal Government
  • Iowa History
  • Local Government
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • State Government
  • Uncategorized
  • Uncategorized

Newsletter

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.