Iowa’s unemployment rate in March rose to 3.4 percent while the labor force participation rate held steady at 67 percent, according to data released this (Thursday) morning by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD). The number of employed Iowans rose to 1,664,000, an increase of 400 from February and 2,400 from a year ago. Unemployed Iowans increased by 1,300 to 58,600. IWD Director Beth Townsend says, “March’s report shows increased hiring in key industries such as construction, transportation, and healthcare, while other areas with more temporary workers pulled back. There remain over 50,000 open jobs in Iowa, and the IowaWORKS career planners and Reemployment Case Management team can help Iowans who are looking for work find available jobs and learn how to best position themselves in a competitive job market.” Construction led job gains with 500 new positions, while healthcare and transportation each added around 500 jobs. However, leisure and hospitality lost 900 jobs, and professional services shed 2,000. Iowa’s manufacturing sector continues to struggle, losing 8,000 jobs over the past year. Unemployment claims dropped month-over-month but remain higher than March 2024. For the IWD full dataset, follow the link included with this story on our website. Local unemployment figures are scheduled for release early next week.
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