United States Employment Snapshot
In May, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 13, rose in 17, and remained unchanged in 21.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 2 percent in North Dakota and South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent.
In May, payroll jobs rose in 42 states and fell in 9. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.9 percent in Idaho. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.3 percent in Minnesota.
Iowa Employment Snapshot
In May, Iowa lost 200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.8 percent. In the prior month, Iowa lost 200 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Iowa added 23,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Iowa is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Iowa’s private sector lost 900 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 18,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Iowa lost 600 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Iowa fell by 2,177, and over the past 12 months it fell by 20,569.
Iowa’s labor force participation rate fell to 66.7 percent in May from 66.8 percent and ranks 8th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.3 percentage points.
Iowa Payroll Employment
Iowa lost 200 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Iowa lost 200 jobs. Iowa nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 272,000 in May, or 0.2 percent. Iowa is tied for 27th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Iowa lost 900 private sector jobs, or -0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Iowa lost 600 jobs. Iowa private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 229,000 jobs in May, or 0.2 percent. Iowa is tied for 24th 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 May were Education and Health Services (1,400) and Government (700).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Other Services (-700) and Professional and Business Services (-900).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (6,900) and Leisure and Hospitality (6,500).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Financial Activities (-800) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,700).
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 fell to 66.7 percent in May from 66.8 percent in the prior month.
Iowa ranks 8th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Iowa was 70.3 percent occurring in September 2019, and the 10-year low was 65.5 percent in August 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.5 percent in May.