October 2024 | Released November 19, 2024

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In October, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 8, rose in 22, and remained unchanged in 21.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in District of Columbia and Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in October.

• In October, payroll jobs rose in 21 states and fell in 30. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Idaho. The largest payroll job percent decline was 1 percent in Washington.

Iowa Employment Snapshot

• In October, Iowa lost 3,700 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3 percent. In the prior month, Iowa lost 4,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Iowa added 6,100 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from 3.1 percent.

• 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.

• In October, Iowa’s private sector lost 3,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 2,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Iowa lost 6,100 net private payroll jobs.

• In October, employment in Iowa fell by 1,452, and over the past 12 months it fell by 19,330.

• Iowa’s labor force participation rate fell to 66.2 percent in October from 66.3 percent and ranks 10th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 1.3 percentage points.

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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.

• The labor force participation rate in Iowa fell to 66.2 percent in October from 66.3 percent in the prior month.

• Iowa ranks 10th 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 0.1 percentage points to 62.6 percent in October.