March 29, 2024

Iowa unemployment rate edges up to 4.6 percent

DES MOINES — The unemployment rate in Iowa edged up slightly in September to 4.6 percent from 4.5 percent in August as the state’s labor force grew but the number of workers filing for unemployment also increased.

Iowa Workforce Development figures in the monthly report released Tuesday show the state’s total workforce grew by 4,600 to 1.71 million in September and jobs were added in some sectors including construction.

However leisure and hospitality, transportation, and manufacturing sectors cut workers. The result was 77,900 unemployed workers in September, an increase of 1,400 from August.

Teresa Wahlert, director of Iowa Workforce Development says global uncertainty is affecting new orders and manufacturing has lost jobs for four straight months but those losses are partially offset by near record employment in construction, health care and finance.