Iowa’s unemployment rate rose in April, despite gains in the total number of working Iowans. The state’s unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 3.5 percent, from 3.4 percent in March. A year ago, it stood at 2.8 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate held steady at 4.2 percent. The labor force participation rate rose to 67.2 percent in April, the highest in more than a year, as 5,000 Iowans joined the workforce and employers added 5,200 jobs, according to data released this week by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD). IWD Director Beth Townsend says, “April’s report showed significant job growth, as well as more Iowans returning to the workforce. We saw new workers from all age groups coming back into the workforce to take jobs in construction, health care, leisure and hospitality, as well as accounting and tax services. The good news for Iowans coming back into the workforce is that there are still more than 50,000 jobs available at IowaWorks.gov.” Employment gains were led by construction (+1,300), professional and business services (+1,400), and leisure and hospitality (+900). Manufacturing and trade, transportation, and utilities each lost 500 jobs. Over the past year, healthcare and social assistance added 5,200 jobs, while manufacturing shed 7,400. The total number of working Iowans in April was 1,667,100, up 4,500 from a year ago. Unemployment insurance claims also declined, with continued benefit recipients dropping 26 percent from last April. Local unemployment figures are slated for release next week. For more information on Iowa’s labor force data, follow the link included below.
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