Iowa unemployment rate holds despite loss of nearly 5,000 jobs

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – Despite layoffs in the manufacturing sector, Iowa managed to maintain it’s 2.9% unemployment rate in September.

The unemployment rate is unchanged from August and is down from 3.1% a year ago. Both numbers are well below the U-S unemployment rate of 4.1% last month. The number of people on unemployment ross by 1,000 from August but not enough to move the rate. Total unemployment is still down 3,900 from September 2023.

The unemployment rate held despite Iowa shedding 4,800 jobs in September. Education and health services saw the biggest job losses, shedding 2,600 jobs in September. The manufacturing sector lost 100 jobs, despite layoffs from Deere and other manufacturers taking effect.

Manufacturing saw the largest job cuts over the past year, dropping 2,600 jobs. Leisure and hospitality have seen the biggest growth in the past year, adding 6,500 jobs while the education sector has added 6,000 jobs in the past year, despite the large cuts last month.

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