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Iowa Unemployment Rate at 6.8 Percent

“In contrast to the U.S. employment situation, Iowa’s private sector hired at a strong enough pace in July to overcome the job losses on the government side,” said Elisabeth Buck, director of Iowa Workforce Development. Nonfarm jobs in the state have increased in six of the first seven months of 2010, which has managed to keep the recovery intact.”

All told, there were 113,800 Iowa residents looking for work in July. The monthly estimate of unemployed is up 700 from June, and 11,600 from July 2009.

The total number of working Iowans fell to 1,560,800 in July from 1,567,200 in June. The current level is down 9,500 from last year.

Iowa’s total nonfarm employment increased by 1,700 in July, bringing the new level to 1,474,900. Expected sharp declines in government were more than offset by increases in the private sector. Due to the job gains posted for July, the year-over-year change fell back into positive territory with the current figure now 3,700 higher than July 2009.

Government reflected the largest job loss in July, down 1,300. State government dropped by 2,000, as a large number of state government employees took advantage of the early retirement incentive program. The loss of 600 in federal government employment was largely due to the remaining Census workers completing their temporary assignments. Local government hiring helped ease the losses somewhat with the addition of 1,300 jobs. Private employment in July was led by gains in leisure and hospitality (+2,500), construction (+1,100), and trade and transportation (+700).

Compared to July 2009, the largest increases have been in professional and business services and manufacturing, up 8,100 and 7,200 jobs, respectively. The greatest losses since last year have been in trade and transportation (-6,900), and in government (3,500).

MEDIA ALERT: An audio cut of comments about Iowa’s labor market situation is available by calling (515) 281-6057. Statewide and local data for August will be released on Tuesday, September 21, 2010.

Employment and Unemployment In Iowa, Seasonally Adjusted Data                     Change from   July  2010 June 2010 July  2009 June  2010 July  2009 Civilian labor force 1,674,600 1, 680,300 1,672,500 -5,700 2,100 Unemployment 113,800 113,100 102,200 700 11,600 Unemployment rate 6.8% 6.7% 6.1% 0.1 0.7 Employment 1,560,800 1,567,200 1,570,300 -6,400 -9,500                 U.S. unemployment rate 9.5% 9.5% 9.4% 0.0 0.1             Nonfarm Employment In Iowa, Seasonally Adjusted Data             Total nonfarm employment 1,474,900 1,473,200 1,471,200 1,700 3,700 Mining 2,400 2,400 2,200 0 200 Construction 62,700 61,600 63,600 1,100 -900 Manufacturing 205,300 205,600 198,100 -300 7,200 Trade, transportation and utilities 295,500 294,800 302,400 700 -6,900 Information 29,200 29,100 30,200 100 -1,000 Financial activities 99,700 100,200 101,600 -500 -1,900 Professional and business services 124,200 125,000 116,100 -800 8,100 Education and health services 211,500 211,300 210,400 200 1,100 Leisure and hospitality 132,800 130,300 133,100 2,500 -300 Other services 59,100 59,100 57,500 0 1,600 Government 252,500 253,800 256,300 -1,300 -3,500

Visit www.iowaworkforce.org/lmi/laborforce/locallaborforce.html for county unemployment rates,
www.iowaworkforce.org/lmi/laborforce/index.html for current and historical labor force data and
www.iowaworkforce.org/lmi/empstat/msanonag.htm for detailed information on nonfarm employment.

Visit www.iowaworkforce.org/trends/wages.html for information on hours and earnings and
www.iowaworkforce.org/trends/uiclaimscomo.html to obtain a breakout of jobless benefits by county.

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