Jobless rate dips in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City

With more Corridor residents employed last month, the jobless rate dipped in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City when compared with February.

Iowa Workforce Development reported that 140,200 people were employed in the Cedar Rapids metropolitan statistical area last month, up from 138,400 in February. That sent the unemployment rate down to 5.2 percent in March from 5.5 percent the previous month.

Total non-farm employment in the Cedar Rapids metropolitan statistical area (MSA) gained 1,400 jobs from February and stands at 139,500 jobs. Employment is 200 above a year ago, but 300 below March 2012.

Leisure and hospitality had the greatest gain, adding 400 jobs, an unusually large increase this early in the year. Professional and business services added 300 jobs, bringing employment in the sector back to the December level.

Natural resources and construction also added 200 jobs. Manufacturing employment added 100 jobs from February and 200 from a year ago. Trade and transportation shed 200 jobs from March 2013.

The leisure and hospitality sector has added the greatest number of jobs from March 2013, increasing employment by 500.

A total of 94,700 people were employed last month in the Iowa City MSA, up 1,000 from February. The unemployment rate declined to 3.4 percent in March from 3.2 percent in February.

Non-farm employment in Iowa City increased 500 jobs from last month, the lowest February to March gain in more than a decade. Goods producing industries added 200 jobs in March and 400 from March of last year.

Leisure and hospitality also added 200 in March and 400 from a year ago. Retail trade is the only industry that shed jobs from February, eliminating 100 jobs.

Trade, transportation and warehousing lost 100 jobs and local government trimmed 200 positions, the only industries with jobs losses in March. Professional and business services is unchanged from February and March 2013.

Iowa's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged up to 4.5 percent in March from 4.4 percent in February.

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