Iowa’s unemployment rate was unchanged for May. Iowa Workforce Development says the unemployment rate held at 3.9 percent in May, which ends a three-month trend where the rate steadily inched up.
The rate started the year at 3.5 percent in January. Iowa Workforce Development says while the unemployment rate held steady, there was decline in the labor force due to several factors.
There was a loss of 4,200 non-farm jobs, including 3,700 in the private sector. Manufacturers lost 2,700 of those jobs. The number of people in Iowa who are unemployed rose to 66,500 or 4,500 more than one year ago.