United States Employment Snapshot



Iowa Employment Snapshot




Iowa Payroll Employment


  • Iowa lost 3,700 net payroll jobs, or -0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during October. In the prior month, Iowa lost 4,500 jobs. Iowa nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

  • Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 12,000 in October, or 0 percent. Iowa is tied for 50th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

  • Iowa lost 3,600 private sector jobs, or -0.3 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during October. In the prior month, Iowa lost 6,100 jobs. Iowa private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

  • Nationally, private sector payroll jobs fell by 28,000 jobs in October, or 0 percent. Iowa is tied for 49th 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 October were Education and Health Services (1,000) and Leisure and Hospitality (600).

  • The poorest performing sectors during the month were Manufacturing (-1,600) and Construction (-1,800).

  • The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Leisure and Hospitality (6,100) and Education and Health Services (5,900).

  • The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Professional and Business Services (-3,500) and Manufacturing (-6,100).



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.