Iowa’s unemployment rate up slightly in November

DES MOINES — The Iowa unemployment rate slightly increased from October to November.

Iowa Workforce Development says the state’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate increased one-tenth of a percent to 3.1% in November. It’s equal to what the Iowa unemployment rate was in November of last year. The state’s labor force participation rate rose a tenth of a percent to 66.3%.

Iowa Workforce Development director Beth Townsend says the bright spot in the November report was that 1600 Iowans came back to the labor force in search of a job, which she says is a welcome sign for Iowa in terms of economic stability and growth.

Leisure and hospitality led all private sectors in jobs added in November with over 700. Professional and business services led all private sectors in losses for the month with 1200.

The national unemployment rate for November was 4.2%.