Iowa Job Watch
June 24, 2008
Mixed Signals: Jobless Rate Spikes Despite Record Nonfarm Jobs
Jobless Rate Hits 26-Month High in Iowa at 3.9 Percent — Before Floods

Iowa's economy produced jobs well ahead of its recent pace in May, but not enough to keep the unemployment rate from a sharp spike to 3.9 percent. News release

May 20, 2008
Slowing Iowa Job Pace in Early 2008
Nonfarm Jobs Drop for Third Straight Month

Nonfarm jobs in Iowa fell in April for the third month in a row, another signal of a sluggish Iowa economy. News release

April 22, 2008
Less of the Same for Iowa Jobs
Small Nonfarm Drop in March Follows Sluggish Trend for State Job Picture

Iowa nonfarm jobs dropped slightly for the second straight month, leaving the state on pace with its sluggish performance for the past year. Read the news release.

March 25, 2008
Iowa Jobs: Shaky Footing for Iowa Jobs
Small Job Drop in February Another Slow Signal for Iowa

Nonfarm jobs dropped slightly and so did the state unemployment rate in February, but both represented another tick in the possible slowing of Iowa’s economy. Read the news release.

March 11, 2008
Iowa Jobs: Slow Growth, Even Slower Than Thought
Annual Revisions Lower the Bar for Iowa Job Numbers

This month’s revisions of employment data may signal a long term slowing for the Iowa economy. While the state reported Iowa gained in nonfarm jobs in January, the new numbers actually reflect a decline of almost 5,000 from the previously reported December level. Read the news release.

Jan. 23, 2008
Iowa Jobs End 2007 on Sour Note
Jobless Rate Rises to 4 Percent While Nonfarm Jobs Fall

A disappointing December boosted Iowa's unemployment rate to 4 percent, its highest level in 23 months, as payroll jobs fell by 900 to finish off a slow-growth year. Read the press release.

Dec. 27, 2007
Iowa Payroll Jobs Up in November
Fifth Straight Month at 3.9 Percent Jobless

Unemployment held at 3.9 percent for the fifth straight month as Iowa's payroll jobs rose by over 3,000 for the second time in three months. Read the press release.

November 20, 2007
Slight Dip in Payroll Jobs; Iowa Jobless Rate Holds
October is Fourth Straight Month at 3.9 Percent Jobless

Payroll jobs in Iowa dipped slightly in October as the unemployment rate remained at 3.9 percent for the fourth straight month. As shown at right, Iowa's nonfarm job performance has fluctuated wildly in 2007, increasing by 3,900 or more in four months, but declining by 900 in three. On balance, the average pace is slightly ahead of 2006 but well off that of high-growth years in the 1990s. Read the press release.

October 23, 2007
Iowa Payroll Jobs See One-Month Jump
Jobless Rate Holds at 3.9 Percent in September
A 4,100-job spike in September payrolls boosted Iowa's economic performance heading into the final quarter of 2007 as the unemployment rate held at 3.9 percent for the third straight month. Read the Press Release.
September 25, 2007
Iowa Jobs in Holding Pattern
Jobless Rate Stays at 3.9 Percent, Nonfarm Jobs Steady
August job numbers reflected Iowa’s long-term trend of slow job growth as the state’s unemployment rate held at 3.9 percent and nonfarm jobs showed a slight upward tick. Read the Press Release.
August 21, 2007
Stagnant Signs in Iowa Jobs
Jobless Rate Up for Fourth Straight Month; Nonfarm Job Pace Sputters
For the fourth month in a row, Iowa's unemployment rate is up, while a drop in payroll jobs is contributing to a sputtering trend. Read the Press Release.
July 24, 2007
Mixed Iowa Job Messages in June
Jobless Rate Up to 3.8 Percent; Nonfarm Jobs Rise by 900
A third straight increase in the monthly unemployment rate masked slow job growth for Iowans. Read the Press Release.
June 14, 2007
Jobless Rate Up, But Nonfarm Jobs Improve
May Jobs Increase by 3,400 in Iowa
May offered better job prospects for new graduates than April had indicated, according to new figures from Iowa Workforce Development. Read the Press Release.
May 17, 2007
Downward Job Blip at Graduation Time
Nonfarm Jobs Fall, Jobless Rate Rises in April
New Iowa high-school and college graduates are being greeted by a downward blip on the state’s job radar. Read the Press Release.
April 19, 2007
Iowa Jobs: Six Years of Slow Growth
Nonfarm Jobs Higher, Unemployment Rate Drops in March
While signs are up for Iowa jobs with the latest report from Iowa Workforce Development, some signs are up more than others. Read the Press Release.
March 29, 2007
Strong Early ’07 Pace for Iowa Nonfarm Jobs
Nonfarm Jobs Rise, Jobless Rate Falls in February
Iowa nonfarm jobs posted their largest two-month gain in almost nine years as the unemployment rate dropped a notch to 3.3 percent in February. Read the Press Release.
March 15, 2007
Iowa Jobs Pick Up in January
Nonfarm Jobs Rise, Jobless Rate Falls
Iowa’s nonfarm job growth picked up its pace in January in revised numbers from the government, with the unemployment rate falling to 3.4 percent. Read the Press Release.
January 18, 2007
Iowa Jobs Pace Dips in 2006
December Increase in Nonfarm Jobs – and Jobless Rate
Iowa’s average monthly job growth dipped slightly in 2006 from the year before as the state’s job level continued a slow climb in December. Read the Press Release.
December 21, 2006
Iowa Jobs See Uptick in November
Jobless Rate Drops Back to 3.4 Percent
A boost in nonfarm jobs in November put Iowa on pace with the slow level of growth the state saw in 2005. Read the Press Release.
November 16, 2006
Iowa Jobs Down in October
Jobless Rate Rises to 3.6 Percent as Job Level Drops
Fewer Iowans found work in October than September as nonfarm jobs showed their biggest drop in nine months and the unemployment rate rose to 3.6 percent. Read the Press Release.
October 19, 2006
Strong One-Month Showing for Iowa Jobs
Iowa Jobless Rate Falls to 3.4 Percent in September; Nonfarm Jobs Rise
More Iowans found work in September as the jobless rate fell for the second straight month, and nonfarm jobs showed their best improvement in six months. Read the Press Release.
September 21, 2006
Ups and Downs of a Slow Recovery
Iowa Unemployment Rate Falls to 3.6 Percent, But Nonfarm Jobs Also Drop
Ups and downs of Iowa’s economy gave signals in both directions in August, as the unemployment rate dropped to 3.6 percent after two straight increases, but nonfarm jobs showed a slight decline as well. Read the Press Release.
August 17, 2006
Slow Growth for Iowa Jobs in July
Unemployment Rate Rises to 3.8 Percent, But Nonfarm Jobs Climb
A third-straight month of slight improvement in nonfarm jobs came with a second straight increase in the state unemployment rate. Nonfarm jobs increased by 2,500 and were up 29,100 from a year ago. Read the Press Release. View the Graphs.
July 20, 2006
Iowa Jobs Showing Slow Growth
Unemployment Rate Rises to 3.6 Percent — But Nonfarm Jobs Also Up
Iowa saw slight improvement in nonfarm jobs during June despite an uptick in the unemployment rate. Read the Press Release. View the Graphs.
June 15, 2006
Iowa's Bumpy Road to Recovery
Iowa nonfarm jobs are keeping a slow, bumpy pace to recovery and state officials predict a slow pace in the coming months as well. May brought good news, however, as unemployment rolls dropped to 56,000 and the unemployment rate to 3.4 percent in May. The number of jobs also increased by 2,000. Read the Press Release. View the Graphs.
May 18, 2006
Up-and-Down Iowa Job Picture Greets New Graduates
Nonfarm jobs in Iowa dropped in April, part of a trend of slow job growth that will greet a new class of graduates this spring. At the same time, Iowa’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.6 percent. Read the Press Release. View the Graphs.
April 20, 2006
Five Years Later: Mixed Signs for Iowa Jobs
Nonfarm jobs rose by 6,000 in March and the unemployment rate fell to 3.8 percent. However, on this five year anniversary since the start of the recession, jobs have only grown by two percent. Read the Press Release.
March 30, 2006
Iowa Nonfarm Jobs Bounce Back in February
Iowa nonfarm jobs grew by 8,600 in January, although the unemployment rate also increased to 4.4 percent as more Iowans sought work. Read the Press Release and view the Graphs.
March 8, 2006
Iowa Nonfarm Jobs Fall in January
Iowa nonfarm jobs fell by 5,600 in January, yet the unemployment rate also declined to 4.1 percent. The apparently contradictory statistics come from two different sources. Read the Press Release and view the Graphs.
January 19, 2006
Job Growth Picks up Pace in December
Iowa saw one of its best job months of 2005 in December, as payroll jobs posted record numbers for the second straight month and the unemployment rate dropped to 4.5 percent. Read the Press Release.
December 15, 2005
Record High for Iowa Nonfarm Jobs
More Iowans held payroll jobs in November than at any point before, giving the state its ninth nonfarm job increase in 10 months, while record numbers of people in the workforce pushed the unemployment rate up to 4.8 percent. Read the Press Release and view the Graphs.
November 17, 2005
Iowa Nonfarm Jobs Hit Five-Year High in October
The number of Iowans on payrolls reached its highest level in more than five years in October as the state's nonfarm job market posted its eighth increase in nine months. Read the Press Release and view the Graphs.
October 20, 2005
Mixed Signals in September Jobs for Iowa
More Iowans held jobs in September than a month earlier, while an increased number looking, but unable to find work, drove the state unemployment rate up to 4.5 percent. Read the Press Release.
September 15, 2005
Streak Ends for Iowa Job Gains
August drops in Iowa’s nonfarm job total and the state’s labor force offered troubling signs for the state’s economy despite a 29-month low in the unemployment rate at 4.3 percent. Read the Press Release and view the Graphs.
August 18, 2005
Iowa Nonfarm Jobs Climb for Sixth Straight Month
Iowa’s Iowa nonfarm jobs rose in July for the sixth straight month and the number of people in the job market rose to an all-time high as the state’s unemployment rate held at 4.6 percent. Read the Press Release and view the Graphs.
July 21, 2005
Four Years Later, Iowa Climbs Out of Job Hole
Iowa’s economy pulled itself out of a four-year hole in June as nonfarm jobs climbed by 5,700, passing their highest level since the start of the March 2001 recession, and the unemployment rate dropped to 4.6 percent from 4.8 percent the month before. Read the Press Release and view the Graphs.
June 16, 2005
Disappointing Month for Iowa Jobs in May
Promise in April turned to disappointment in May as Iowa’s nonfarm job growth dropped for the first time in four months and the unemployment rate jumped to 4.8 percent after a sharp drop the month before. Read the Press Release and view the Graphs.
May 19, 2005
Sharp Job Gains, Drop in Iowa Jobless Rate
Iowa's biggest boost in nonfarm jobs in almost five years gave the state its third straight monthly employment increase as the unemployment rate dropped sharply in April to 4.5 percent. It was the first decline in Iowa's jobless rate in six years. Read the Press Release and view the Graphs.
April 21, 2005
Job Gains in Iowa, But Jobless Rate Holds at 5.1 Percent
Iowa gained 2,500 nonfarm jobs in March, a bright spot as the state unemployment rate remained at 5.1 percent for the third straight month. Read the Press Release and view the Graphs.
March 31, 2005
Slow Job Growth Holds Iowa Jobless Rate at 5.1 Percent
Iowa's unemployment rate remained at a 17-year high of 5.1 percent in February as slow job growth kept the state 14,500 jobs behind the number of nonfarm jobs in March 2001. Read the Press Release.
March 17, 2005
Iowa Jobs Fall in January
Iowa’s shaky economic recovery took an employment dive in January, falling by 3,600 nonfarm jobs as the unemployment rate rose to a nearly 17-year high of 5.1 percent. Read the Press Release and view the Graphs.
January 20, 2005
Iowa Jobs Climb in December
Iowa’s sluggish recovery ended 2004 on the right track as the roller-coaster job performance through the year finished with a 1,600-job gain in December. Read the Press Release.
December 16, 2004
Iowa Jobs Fall in November
Iowa's nonfarm jobs dropped by 1,500 in November after a slow four-month climb, while the state's unemployment rate fell slightly to 4.7 percent as 4,000 people left the state's labor market. Read the Press Release.
November 18, 2004
Fourth Straight Month of Job Growth for Iowa
Iowa posted its fourth-straight monthly increase in nonfarm jobs as growing numbers of Iowans sought work in an economy that remains in a sluggish recovery. Read the Press Release.
October 21, 2004
Latest Job Count Falls Short
An increase in the number of nonfarm jobs in September is encouraging, but the economic recovery in Iowa continues to be weak. Read the Press Release.
September 16, 2004
A Trend or a Reprieve? Iowa Jobs See Boost
Iowa may have rebounded from a late-Spring slump with a 3,400 job increase in August, the state's second straight monthly increase in nonfarm jobs. Read the Press Release.
August 19, 2004
Good Sign, But Uncertainty in Iowa Jobs
Iowa's roller-coaster job picture showed a 2,000-job increase in July after accounting for a lower level of jobs in June than previously reported. Read the Press Release.
July 15, 2004
Iowa Jobs Up, But Don't Make Up for May Loss
Iowa's roller-coaster job picture showed a 2,000-job increase in July after accounting for a lower level of jobs in June than previously reported. Read the Press Release.
June 17, 2004
Iowa Jobs Drop in May
A 200-job loss in May kept Iowa's job performance off the pace of economic recovery. Read the Press Release.
May 20, 2004
Iowa Jobs Down Again in April
Iowa job numbers dropped sharply in April, putting the state further below pre-recession job levels. Read the Press Release.
April 15, 2004
Iowa Jobs Picture Stagnant
Iowa job numbers rose only slightly in March, contributing to a stagnant employment picture that shows the state lags behind pre-recession job levels and the pace of the 1990s recovery. Read the Press Release and view the Graphs.
March 25, 2004
Iowa Jobs Well Off Recovery Pace
On the third anniversary of the start of the 2001 recession, employment in Iowa remains far below pre-recession levels and job growth is well behind the pace of the 1990s recovery. Read the Press Release. View the graphs: Job Gap since March 2001 and A Tale of Two Recessions.
March 4, 2004
Iowa Jobs Increase, But Remain Off Pace
A 2,800-job increase in January gives hope of reversing Iowa's downward employment trends. Read the Press Release.
January 22, 2004
Iowa Jobs Fall for Second Straight Month
A 2,500-job loss in December points to continued instability in the Iowa job picture as the number of Iowans employed and those looking for work declined for the second straight month, an Iowa economist said Thursday. Read the Press Release.
December 18, 2003
Double Whammy: Iowa Jobs Dip, Benefits to Stop
A 1,700-job loss in November ended a three-month string of modest employment gains. Read the Press Release and view the Graphs.
Just in time for the holidays, some Iowa families are taking a double blow: poor prospects for a job, and a loss of unemployment benefits. A federal program that provides 13 weeks of unemployment assistance for long-term unemployed is about to expire. Read the Press Release.
November 20, 2003
Positive Signs Modest in New Jobs Report
An 800-job increase in Iowa and a slight dip in the unemployment rate to 4.5 percent are positive signs, but offer only modest prospects of a meaningful economic recovery in the state. Read the Press Release and view the Graphs.