Iowa Workforce Development officials released numbers last week that indicate Iowaís nonfarm employment increased to 1,476,100 in June. That's 5,700 more than in May and 19,600 more than in June 2004.
This marks the fifth straight month in which the nonfarm sector has added jobs, following an upward revision of the May preliminary total.
While Iowaís manufacturing sector showed a robust gain for June, the industry declined at the national level. Manufacturing jobs in the state have grown every month since the beginning of the year, and currently stand at a level that is 4,100 than one year ago. Government, on the other hand, has been declining over the past year with intermittent small gains in some months.
Juneís total is 8,400 jobs fewer than the all-time peak employment of 1,484,500 set in March of 2000.
Nonfarm employment rose by 5,700 in June, and the stateís seasonally adjusted unemployment rate trended downward to 4.6 percent. The current rate compares with 4.8 percent for both the prior month and the same period one year ago.
The number of employed persons in the state edged up to 1,562,800 in June. This level was 1,200 higher than May and 17,600 higher than June 2004.
The statewide estimate of unemployed persons dropped to 75,800 in June. This level was down 2,500 from May and 2,300 from one year ago.
The U.S. unemployment rate was reported at 5.0 percent in June, falling to its lowest level since September 2001. National joblessness stood at 5.1 percent in May and at 5.6 percent in June 2004. For the nation, payroll employment advanced by 146,000 jobs in June. Professional and business services had the largest single increase of 56,000 followed by an increase of 38,200 in education and health services.
Senator Maggie Tinsman 563.359.3624/515.281.3371
maggie.tinsman@legis.state.ia.us
