Iowa January Unemployment Rate Release

Iowa Workforce Development Communications
For Immediate Release
Date: March 14, 2016
Contact: Courtney Maxwell Greene
Telephone: 515-423-3210
Email:  courtney.greene@iwd.iowa.gov

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Iowa January Unemployment Rate Released

DES MOINES, IOWA – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.5 percent in January 2016. The state’s revised December rate, originally reported as 3.4 percent, was adjusted to 3.5 percent after benchmarking.

Iowa’s jobless rate was 3.8 percent one year ago. The U.S. unemployment rate decreased to 4.9 percent in January.  This was the lowest national rate since February 2008.

“January data shows the number of unemployed Iowans increased slightly from December 2015,” said Beth Townsend, director of Iowa Workforce Development. “We will continue to monitor the economic landscape throughout the spring season and actively promote employment opportunities across Iowa.”

The number of unemployed Iowans increased to 59,800 in January from 59,400 in December. The current estimate is 5,200 lower than the year ago level of 65,000. The total number of working Iowans increased to 1,649,400 in January. This figure was 3,400 higher than December and 12,100 higher than one year ago.

Benchmarking is the process of re-estimating statistics as more complete data becomes available. Prior year’s estimates for the Current Employment Statistics (CES) and Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) programs are benchmarked annually. In March, the revised data is incorporated with the January employment statistics.

Seasonally Adjusted Nonfarm Employment

Iowa’s nonfarm employment surged ahead 7,900 jobs in January, lifting the total up to 1,581,800 jobs.  This month’s gain is the fourth-consecutive increase and was heavily fueled by service industries.  Private sectors alone contributed 6,000 jobs, primarily within service sectors; goods producing sectors were little changed compared to December.  Government gained 1,900 jobs this month due to higher-than-expected seasonal gains in local government education.  With this month’s increase, government is now up 1,000 jobs versus one year ago.

The largest private sector gain was in trade and transportation (+2,200).  The increase was fueled by the retail sector (+1,400) which has fared better than expected during the holiday season.  Leisure and hospitality also added jobs this month (+2,100) due primarily to increased staffing in accommodations and food services.  This sector has also fared well compared to one year ago.  Smaller gains this month included other services, financial activities, and manufacturing.  Losses were sparse in January and limited to professional and business services (-600) and construction (-400).

Since last January, Iowa has added 23,500 jobs, a gain of 1.5 percent.  The largest nonfarm employment gains in Iowa have been in construction (+4,900), due to growth in both residential and commercial/industrial projects.  Leisure and hospitality also remains markedly up (+4,600), as does other services (+4,300) and trade and transportation (+4,300).  Yearly losses have been limited to only two sectors:  manufacturing (-1,700) and information services (-1,200).  Manufacturing losses have been limited to durable goods producers.  Non-durable goods factories, including food manufacturers, have added jobs annually (+900).

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 February 2016 will be released on Friday, March 25, 2016.

 

Employment and Unemployment In Iowa, Seasonally Adjusted Data         Change from   January  2016 December 2015 January  2015 December  2015 January  2015 Civilian labor force 1,709,300 1,705,400 1,702,300 3,900 7,000 Unemployment 59,800 59,400 65,000 400 -5,200 Unemployment rate 3.5% 3.5% 3.8% 0.0 -0.3 Employment 1,649,400 1,646,000 1,637,300 3,400 12,100                 U.S. unemployment rate 4.9% 5.0% 5.7% -0.1 -0.8             Nonfarm Employment In Iowa, Seasonally Adjusted Data             Total nonfarm employment 1,581,800 1,573,900 1,558,300 7,900 23,500 Mining 2,300 2,300 2,300 0 0 Construction 82,500 82,900 77,600 -400 4,900 Manufacturing 216,000 215,700 217,700 300 -1,700 Trade, transportation and utilities 319,400 317,200 315,100 2,200 4,300 Information 24,100 23,900 25,300 200 -1,200 Financial activities 107,600 106,900 104,500 700 3,100 Professional and business services 139,000 139,600 138,200 -600 800 Education and health services 226,900 226,600 223,500 300 3,400 Leisure and hospitality 143,700 141,600 139,100 2,100 4,600 Other services 63,600 62,400 59,300 1,200 4,300 Government 256,700 254,800 255,700 1,900 1,000

(above data subject to revision)

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