Iowa’s Unemployment Rate Declines to 3.5 Percent in February

Iowa Workforce Development Communications
For Immediate Release
Date: March 25, 2022
Contact: Jesse Dougherty
Telephone: 515-725-5487
Email:  communications@iwd.iowa.gov

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Iowa’s Unemployment Rate Declines to 3.5 Percent in February

DES MOINES, IOWA – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 3.5 percent in February from 3.7 percent in January. The state’s jobless rate was 4.4 percent one year ago. The U.S. unemployment rate decreased to 3.8 percent in February.

The total number of unemployed Iowans fell to 59,400 in February, down from 62,700 in January. Meanwhile, the total number of working Iowans increased to 1,626,800 in February – a figure that was 9,100 higher than January and 33,400 higher than one year ago. Iowa businesses added 5,800 jobs in February as hiring has ticked up in 2022. In 2021, the state averaged around 2,800 jobs gained per month.

The labor force participation rate increased from 66.8 percent to 67 percent.

“February’s jobs report is a strong sign that our economy continues to move in the right direction,” said Beth Townsend, Director of Iowa Workforce Development. “More Iowans are returning to the workforce and finding new jobs, many with higher wages than they earned pre-pandemic. We have had a tremendous response to the Reemployment Case Management program, and with over 86,000 job openings currently on IowaWORKS.gov, we can help any Iowan find their next great job, too!”

Seasonally Adjusted Nonfarm Employment

Iowa establishments added 5,800 jobs in February and now rest at 1,562,200 total nonfarm jobs. This is now the fourth consecutive monthly increase for the state and was largely fueled by private industries. Goods-producing industries have been steadily gaining jobs lately due to hiring within manufacturing. Private service industries have been lifted by recent hiring in professional and business services along with continued restaffing within leisure and hospitality. Government gained 1,500 jobs due to state universities adding jobs for the spring semester. Government is now up 7,300 jobs versus last February, with most of the gains being at the local level.

Businesses associated with accommodations and food services advanced by 1,500 jobs in February. This is now the sixth consecutive monthly gain, with a combined 7,300 jobs added since August. Most of the job gains recently have come from those firms associated with eating and drinking establishments. Following a large decrease in January, administrative support and waste management firms added 1,500 jobs, with noticeable hiring within those firms involved with providing services to buildings and dwellings. Manufacturing continues to expand payrolls thanks to hiring in machinery manufacturing, and food manufacturing gained 1,400 jobs. Losses in February were highest in private education (-1,300). This sector had previously gained jobs in the prior three months. Transportation, warehousing, and utilities shed 700 jobs, with many of these losses stemming from truck transportation and related to unusually large temporary hiring for parcel delivery over the holidays.

Since last February, business establishments in Iowa have gained 38,500 jobs. Job growth in Iowa seems to be picking up steam thus far in 2022 – particularly compared to 2021, when the state averaged just 2,800 jobs gained per month. The largest gains continue to be within accommodations and food services (+14,400) followed by manufacturing (+6,200) and construction (+4,500). Losses are much smaller in magnitude and limited to healthcare and social assistance (-1,500), administrative support and waste management (-1,500), and finance and insurance (-1,400).

MEDIA ALERT:  Local data for February 2022 will be posted to the IWD website on Tuesday, March 29, 2022.  Statewide data for March 2022 will be released on Friday, April 15, 2022.

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