The LAUS program provides labor force data (employment and unemployment rates) for each state and sub-state area (combined
statistical areas, metropolitan areas, micropolitan areas,
counties, and cities with populations larger than 25,000).
Beginning January 2005, the LAUS program will use a
third-generation model to compute the unemployment rate.
This new model has several benefits:
-
State labor force estimates will sum to national estimates;
-
Reliability measures will be available to users;
-
Model will directly yield seasonally adjusted estimates;
-
"Real-time" benchmarking will result in smaller year-end
revisions;
-
New model will more clearly reveal the relationships among
the Current Population Survey (household survey),
Unemployment Insurance data, and the nonfarm employment
input; and,
-
Third-generation model will offer historical data back to
1976.
LAUS
data are used for planning and budgetary purposes, determining
employment and training program needs, allocating federal funds
under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and identifying labor
surplus areas, which receive preference in the awarding of
federal procurement contracts. State and local
unemployment rates for Iowa are typically made available on the
third Thursday of every month.
For
detailed information on Iowa data, call (515) 281-5197.
Iowa Links:
Iowa Trends
(Total Resident Jobs & Jobless Rate)
Iowa
WorkNet
Labor Force
Summary Tables
