September 16, 2022
United States Employment Situation
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data for the 50 states and DC released at 10:00am on September 16, 2022In August, unemployment fell in 7 states, rose in 32, and remained unchanged in 12.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.1 percent in District of Columbia. The lowest unemployment rate was 1.9 percent in Minnesota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.2 percentage point to 3.7 percent.
In August, payroll jobs rose in 47 states and fell in 4. The largest payroll job percent increase was 1.3 percent in Hawaii. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Kentucky.
Iowa Employment Situation
Iowa added 3,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 2.6 percent in August.
Over the past twelve months, Iowa added 33,900 payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 1.7 percentage points from 4.3 percent.
In August, Iowa’s private sector added 3,100 net private payroll jobs and over the past twelve months it added 27,800 private payroll jobs in the establishment survey.
In the household survey, the number of unemployed rose by 1,330 on net in August, and over the past year employment rose by 54,997.
Iowa’s labor force participation rate fell to 67.7 percent in August from 67.8 percent. Since last year, the labor force participation rate rose by 0.7 percentage point.
Iowa Payroll Employment
Iowa added 3,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during August. In the prior month, Iowa added 3,700 jobs. Over the past twelve months, Iowa added 33,900 payroll jobs, or 2.2 percent. Iowa nonfarm payroll employment had increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 315,000 in August, or rose by 0.2 percent. Over the 12-month period ending with August, nonfarm payrolls rose by 5,840,000 jobs, or 4 percent. Iowa is tied for 36th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
During August, Iowa’s private-sector added 3,100 jobs, or approximately 0.2 percent. The private-sector in Iowa added 2,000 jobs in the prior month. Over the past twelve months, private-sector payrolls in Iowa added 27,800, or 2.2 percent. Iowa private-sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private-sector payroll jobs rose by 308,000 jobs in August, or 0.2 percent. Over the past 12 months, the national payroll rose by 5,702,000 jobs in the private sector, or 4.6 percent. Iowa is tied for 41st among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for a percentage gain in private-sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during August were Manufacturing (1,500) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (1,000). The poorest performing sectors during the month were Government (-500) and Professional and Business Services (-600).
The best performing sectors during the last twelve months were Manufacturing (7,100) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (5,700). The poorest performing sectors during the last twelve months were Financial Activities (-2,900) and Government (-3,200).
Iowa Labor Force Statistics
Labor Force Participation
The labor force participation rate in Iowa fell to 67.7 percent in August from 67.8 percent in the prior month. At a labor force participation rate of 67.7 percent, Iowa ranks 8th in the nation. The labor force participation rate in Iowa rose by 0.7 percentage point from a year earlier. The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Iowa was 70.6 percent last occurring in October 2019. The series high for the labor force participation rate in Iowa last occurred in September 1996 when the labor force participation rate hit 73.5 percent. The 10-year low for the labor force participation rate was 65.9 percent in August 2020. The series low for the labor force participation rate in Iowa last occurred in May 1976 when the labor force participation rate hit 64.1 percent.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.3 percentage
points over the month to 62.4 percent in August. That rate rose by 0.7
percentage point from a year earlier. The all-time high for the national
labor force participation rate was 67.3 percent in April 2000. The
10-year high for the national labor force participation rate was 63.8
percent in October 2012. The recent 10-year low occurred in April 2020
at a level of 60.2 percent. The series low for the national labor force
participation rate was 58.1 percent in December 1954.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
The employment-to-population ratio, or the percentage of the Iowa civilian noninstitutionalized population 16 years and older counted as employed, in August fell to 65.9 from 66.1 percent in the prior month. At 65.9 percent, Iowa ranks 8th among state employment-to-population ratios in the nation. The employment-to-population ratio in Iowa rose by 1.7 percentage points from a year earlier.
The 10-year high for the employment-to-population ratio in Iowa was 68.7 percent last occurring in October 2019. The series high for the employment-to-population ratio in Iowa last occurred in September 1996 when the employment-to-population ratio hit 70.9 percent. The 10-year low for the employment-to-population ratio was 61.7 percent in April 2020. The series low for the employment-to-population ratio in Iowa last occurred in March 1983 when the employment-to-population ratio hit 59.3 percent.
The national employment-to-population ratio rose by 0.1 percentage point over the month to 60.1 percent in August. That rate rose by 1.6 percentage points from a year earlier. The all-time high for the national employment-to-population rato was 64.7 percent in April 2000. The 10-year high for the national employment-to-population ratio was 61.2 percent in February 2020. The recent 10-year low occurred in April 2020 at a level of 51.3 percent. The series low for the employment-to-population ratio was 51.3 percent in April 2020.
State employment and unemployment data for September is scheduled for release October 21, 2022. The national employment situation report for September will be released October 07, 2022.