Iowa’s unemployment numbers drop for January

Iowa posted a seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 3.3 percent in January - down from 3.8 percent a year ago - according to Iowa Workforce Development numbers released on Monday.

The number of Iowans looking for work was down, too, from December - to 56,600 in January from 59,000 the month before.

'Following a volatile year's end to 2016, the Iowa economy began 2017 on a much stronger note,” Iowa Workforce Development Director Beth Townsend said in a prepared statement. 'Iowa's unemployment rate dropped even further to 3.3 percent in January and Iowa employers added 9,900 jobs.”

Professional and business services saw the largest jump by adding 3,000 jobs, the state reported.

The leisure-and-hospitality category was right behind, bringing in 2,800 new jobs, likely due to the unseasonably warm weather in January.