IOWA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FIELD INFORMATION MEMO
NO: 20-10
TYPE: General
TOPIC: Average Unemployment Rates by Region
| Region | Rate |
|---|---|
| Northeast Iowa LWDA | 4.7 |
| North Central Iowa LWDA | 4.0 |
| Northeast Iowa LWDA | 3.3 |
| Western Iowa LWDA | 4.0 |
| Central Iowa LWDA | 4.4 |
| Southwest Iowa LWDA | 4.0 |
| South Central Iowa LWDA | 4.8 |
| East Central Iowa LWDA | 4.5 |
| Mississippi Valley LWDA | 5.6 |
Purpose
Identifying potential Areas of Substantial Unemployment (ASUs) for PY 2021 allocations to states.
Background
This is a continuation of the Areas of Substantial Unemployment program. It is provided by the Labor Market Information Division of Iowa Workforce Development as part of the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program. It covers the time period from July 2019 through June 2020 and is similar to the report provided in November 2019.
Substance
Enclosed is a table of the average unemployment rates for Iowa’s regions for the time period stated above. These data were developed as part of our process to identify potential Areas of Substantial Unemployment for PY2021 allocations to states. In order to be designated as an ASU, an area must have a current population of at least 10,000 and an average unemployment rate of at least 6.5 percent for the reference period.
The average unemployment rate for the state of Iowa for the reference period is 4.5 percent. Since the statewide rate does not qualify the state as a whole as an ASU, our department has submitted the necessary paperwork to designate one area within Iowa, created with the addition method. This area includes 427 census tracts throughout the state. A map of the ASU is shown above.
Action
The data are for your information and may be provided to your Regional Workforce Investment Board.
Contact
Kris Henze at
Beth Townsend
Director
Iowa Workforce Development
