Statewide Iowa — Iowa’s unemployment rate has dropped to its lowest level in nearly 19 years. Iowa Workforce Development spokesman Cory Kelly says the state’s jobless rate in October dipped to 2.4 percent.
Only Hawaii, at 2.3 percent, has a lower unemployment rate than Iowa.
The IWD report shows the construction and manufacturing sectors are responsible for the bulk of Iowa’s job growth since October of 2017.
According to Kelly, construction added 1,600 jobs last month and has now recorded nine consecutive months of job gains. Iowa manufacturers added 1,900 jobs in October.
The total number of working Iowans increased to 1,647,100 in October. That’s an increase of 21,300 compared to one year ago.
Kelly says there was job growth in several areas.
The U.S. unemployment rate remained at 3.7 percent in October.
The latest NOT seasonally-adjusted county-by-county unemployment figures available are those for the month of September. According to Iowa Workforce Development, that month, Lyon and Sioux counties tied for the lowest unemployment in the state, at 1.2 percent. O’Brien and Plymouth weren’t far behind, tied for fifth place at 1.6 percent with five other counties. Osceola was tied for sixth place with nine other counties at 1.7 percent.
On the other end of the scale were Marshall and Lee counties at 3.7 percent, and Wapello County bringing up the rear with four percent unemployment.
For more information, visit https://www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov/current-employment-statistics
