January 2025
Released March 17, 2025
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United States Employment Snapshot
In January, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 19, and remained unchanged in 23.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent.
In January, payroll jobs rose in 31 states and fell in 19. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in South Dakota. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Georgia.
Iowa Employment Snapshot
In January, Iowa added 1,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.3 percent. In the prior month, Iowa added 2,000 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Iowa added 4,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.5 percentage points from 2.8 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Iowa is tied for 42nd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In January, Iowa’s private sector lost 1,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 2,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Iowa added 400 net private payroll jobs.
In January, employment in Iowa rose by 2,705, and over the past 12 months it rose by 4,350.
Iowa’s labor force participation rate rose to 67 percent in January from 66.9 percent and ranks 9th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has remained unchanged.
Iowa Payroll Employment
Iowa added 1,400 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Iowa added 2,000 jobs. Iowa nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Iowa is tied for 42nd 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 January. In the prior month, Iowa added 400 jobs. Iowa private sector payroll employment has increased in 3 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 81,000 jobs in January, or 0.1 percent. Iowa is tied for 47th 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 January were Government (2,900) and Education and Health Services (700).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Professional and Business Services (-600) and Construction (-800).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Government (6,700) and Education and Health Services (4,700).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Construction (-2,700) and Manufacturing (-7,100).
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 rose to 67 percent in January from 66.9 percent in the prior month.
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 62.6 percent in January.