DES MOINES – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate inched up to 4.5 percent in March, primarily driven by another large increase in the state’s labor force. The March jobless rate compared with 4.4 percent for February, and 4.8 percent for March one year ago. Meanwhile, the U.S. unemployment rate for March held steady at 6.7 percent.
“The Iowa economy reached a milestone in March, as the state’s total employment level climbed to a record high of 1,615,200, said Teresa Wahlert, director of Iowa Workforce Development. “Total employment covers all working Iowans. It includes wage and salary workers on nonfarm payrolls as well as agricultural workers, the self-employed, and also workers in private households and unpaid family members.”
The statewide estimate of unemployed persons edged up to 76,000 in March from 74,200 in February. The number of unemployed stood at 79,300 one year ago.
The total number of working Iowans increased to 1,615,200 in March from 1,609,900 in February. The current figure is 27,100 higher than one year ago.