DES MOINES - Iowa’s unemployment rate has dropped to 6.0 percent, down from 6.6 percent the previous month.
Iowa Workforce Development says the state's jobless rate has declined since peaking in double digits (10.2 percent) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The latest figures for August show the number of Iowans out of work is about half of what it was in April.
The numbers have been seasonally adjusted.
“Thankfully, Iowa’s unemployment rate has continued to decline since our peak month in April, 2020, when we saw initial claims of 157,324, said Iowa Workforce Development. Director Beth Townsend. "The sustained decline shows the resilience of Iowa’s economy as we navigate the impact of the pandemic.”
Here's a breakdown of the numbers released by Iowa Workforce Development:
- In August, there were 96,500—down from 110,300 in July.
- The current estimate is 91,500 lower than the Covid-19 peak in April of 188,000. The total number of working Iowans increased to 1,520,200 in August.
- This figure was 4,000 higher than July’s 1,516,200 and 4,400 lower than April 2020. Iowa’s unemployment rate rose to 11.0 percent in April and is now at 6.0 percent.
- The July rate was slightly higher at 6.8 percent.
- The August civilian labor force stands at 1,616,800—9,700 lower than the month of July and 95,800 below April’s level of 1,712,600.