United States Employment Snapshot
In March, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 15, rose in 17, and remained unchanged in 19.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.8 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.2 percent.
In March, payroll jobs rose in 38 states and fell in 12. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Connecticut.
Iowa Employment Snapshot
In March, Iowa lost 1,500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3.4 percent. In the prior month, Iowa lost 2,100 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Iowa lost 11,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points from 2.7 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Iowa ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In March, Iowa’s private sector lost 1,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 14,100 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Iowa added 1,400 net private payroll jobs.
In March, employment in Iowa rose by 401, and over the past 12 months it rose by 2,404.
Iowa’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 67 percent in March and ranks 9th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has remained unchanged.
Iowa Payroll Employment
Iowa lost 1,500 net payroll jobs, or -0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Iowa lost 2,100 jobs. Iowa nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 4 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 228,000 in March, or 0.1 percent. Iowa ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Iowa lost 1,500 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during March. In the prior month, Iowa added 1,400 jobs. Iowa private sector payroll employment has increased in 3 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 209,000 jobs in March, or 0.2 percent. Iowa ranks 51st in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during March were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (700) and Construction (500).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Leisure and Hospitality (-900) and Professional and Business Services (-2,000).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (4,900) and Government (2,300).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Professional and Business Services (-5,000) and Manufacturing (-8,000).
Iowa Labor Force
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 labor force participation rate in Iowa remained unchanged at 67 percent in March.
Iowa ranks 9th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Iowa was 70.2 percent occurring in September 2019, and the 10-year low was 65.3 percent in August 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.5 percent in March.