Newton Independent
Iowa's jobless rate continues to climb as continuing layoffs and recent graduates entering the job market pushed the June unemployment rate to 6.2 percent, the highest it's been in 22 years, data released today indicates.
"The June labor market numbers depict the effects of a severe and lingering recession on the Iowa economy," said Elisabeth Buck, director of Iowa Workforce Development. "Iowa followed the national trend in June with steep job cuts occurring in construction, manufacturing and professional and business services."
Iowa's June unemployment rate is a half a percentage point higher than the revised May rate of 5.7 percent. One year ago, the jobless rate stood at 4.1 percent. Nationally, the unemployment rate stood at 9.5 percent for June.
All told, the number of unemployed Iowans rose to 104,100 in June, the highest level since February 1986. The June estimate compares with 95,800 for May and 68,400 in June 2008.
Total nonfarm employment contracted by 3,400 in June, marking the fifth consecutive month of declines. Iowa's nonfarm employment now stands at 1.48 million, the lowest level recorded since June 2005. Iowa has shed 43,000 jobs since June 2008, a decline of 2.8 percent.
County-by-county uemployment rates will be released by Workforce Development next week.
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