(The Center Square) – Iowa’s unemployment rate rose slightly in November to 3.3 % from 3.2%, according to numbers from Iowa Workforce Development.
The number of jobs increased, but the number of working Iowans dropped by 8,000 from October to November. That number is still 3,800 higher than the same time last year.
“Despite some Iowans leaving their jobs in November, we saw employers add over 4,500 jobs, and we have gained over 10,000 jobs in the past year,” said Beth Townsend, executive director of Iowa Workforce Development. “A bright spot in today’s report includes an increase of over 1,000 jobs in health care, an industry that has struggled to find workers. That industry is up 8,500 jobs in 2023, which will help ease some of the gaps in the industry created by the pandemic.”
The construction industry added 1,800 jobs in November, bringing its gains to 3,100 in the past three months. Most of the jobs are in commercial construction, according to the department.
Wholesale and retail led to a 1,000-job gain in the trade and transportation industries.
The only sector that lost jobs was the professional and business services industry. The department attributed the decline to reductions in administrative support and waste management services positions. The industry shed 7,400 jobs since last year.
