Iowa’s unemployment rate held steady at two-point-five percent in January, but a labor market analyst says an increase could be ahead. Sha Khan helps compile the numbers for Iowa Workforce Development. Khan says the national unemployment numbers went up in January from four-point-oh to four-point-two. He says national layoffs may trickle down to Iowa’s workforce. Khan says Iowa’s been able to dodge major layoffs the past several months. The tight labor market has thus far made it easy for people who’re laid off to find a new job. Khan says employment was at a near record level in January. It was the second highest level of employment in the state since those records have been kept. The highest came in August of 1996. Khan says 40-thousand-300 people were listed as unemployed in January.
