By PETER HUSSMANN
Jasper County's unemployment rate jumped a percentage point in November to 8.9 percent, Iowa Workforce Development statistics released today show.
The county's 8.9 percent jobless rate compares to a 6.7 percent statewide average. The unemployment rate stood at 8.1 percent in September and 9.2 percent in August, the highest rate of the current year. A year ago the county's unemployment rate was 7.1 percent.
The labor statistics showed 1,570 unemployed people in the county in November compared to 1,390 the month before. The data showed 15,990 people employed in the county in November compared to 16,250 in October.
Iowa's unemployment rate edged up slightly to 6.7 percent in November from a revised October level of 6.6 percent. Nationally, the unemployment rate in November dropped to 10 percent compared to 10.2 percent the month before as employers cut the smallest number of jobs since the recession began.
In Iowa, however, the estimate of unemployed workers rose to 113,100 in November compared to 112,000 in October. The level of unemployed was reported at 72,800 in November a year ago.
"Iowa's labor market continued to show signs of stabilizing with the November numbers," said Elisabeth Buck, director of Iowa Workforce Development. "However, it will take some time before Iowa can achieve a healthy and sustainable recovery."
Compared to last year, nonfarm employment has shed 35,200 jobs. The majority of those losses occurred in manufacturing and construction, down 21,600 and 9,100 respectively. The only sectors to add jobs compared to last year were in education and health services, up 4,400, and financial activities, up 700.
You can view a statewide map showing individual county unemployment rates in November 2009 compared to November 2008 by going here.
