NEWS RELEASE: Iowa’s Unemployment Rate Increases to 4.1 Percent in July, Labor Participation Continues to Rise

Iowa’s Unemployment Rate Increases to 4.1 Percent in July, Labor Participation Continues to Rise

DES MOINES – Iowa’s unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.1 percent in July 2021 from 4.0 percent in June 2021. The state’s jobless rate was 6.1 percent one year ago. The total number of working Iowans increased to 1,593,600 in July of 2021, which is 55,400 higher than July 2020 and 5,700 more than June of 2021. In addition to 5,700 newly employed Iowans, the number of unemployed Iowans looking for work rose by 800, resulting in Iowa’s labor force participation rate increasing from 66.6 percent in June to 66.9 percent.

“From May to July we saw an increase of 175 percent in the number of people visiting our IowaWORKS job centers to take active steps towards finding work, and that trend has continued in August,” said Beth Townsend, Director of Iowa Workforce Development. “As we’ve seen over the past few months, Iowans are re-entering the labor force in increasing numbers, and this shows that we continue to move in the right direction.”

Seasonally Adjusted Nonfarm Employment

Total nonfarm employment in Iowa gained 7,400 jobs in July, increasing employment to 1,532,800. This was the third consecutive gain. Service industries fueled much of the growth, with gains particularly strong in leisure and hospitality. Additionally, goods-producing industries gained 2,400 workers through robust hiring in manufacturing. Private sectors have added 37,400 jobs annually.

Accommodations and food services added the most jobs in July (+4,400). This was the sector’s seventh consecutive increase for a total of 13,400 jobs added in 2021. Led by durable goods factories, manufacturing added 2,100 jobs in July and has now added jobs in the last three months. Health care and social assistance increased by 1,200 – the first gain since December 2020. Job losses were largest in professional and business services (-800) and fueled primarily by losses in temporary help services along with services to buildings and dwellings.

Annually, Iowa establishments have added 46,100 jobs to their payrolls. Leisure and hospitality has added the most (+16,300) followed by manufacturing (+10,000). Retail trade is up 4,500 compared to last July, although hiring has been tepid to begin the year. Sectors seeing little growth over the past 12 months include transportation and warehousing (-800), health care and social assistance (-800), and information (-300).

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