Iowa jobless rate falls to 4.3 percent

More Iowans were working last month, sending the state's jobless rate down to 4.3 percent from 4.5 percent in October.

Iowa Workforce Development on Friday said nonfarm employment increased to an estimated 1,558,700 in November, a gain of 1,800 jobs. The total is 15,700 higher than a year ago.

A total of 1,639,800 Iowans were working last month, the most for the year and 5,000 higher than October. Total employment in November was 37,600 higher than in November 2013.

The number of unemployed Iowans decreased to 73,900 in November from 76,700 in October. The estimate is 3,200 higher than the year-ago level of 70,700.

'Virtually all of Iowa's economic indicators showed improvement last month,” said Teresa Wahlert, director of Iowa Workforce Development.

Private service industries fueled the growth in nonfarm employment and were led by leisure and hospitality as well as professional and business services. Government contracted by 500 jobs due to a drop in local government, but remains up 5,400 jobs since November 2013.

Leisure and hospitality added the most jobs - 2,300 - with gains attributed to increased hiring within accommodations and food services. Professional and business services also increased by 1,100 jobs due to hiring in administrative support and waste management services.

Employment losses were heaviest last month in trade and transportation, with a decline of 800 jobs fueled by a 400-job decline in transportation and warehousing coupled with weak seasonal hiring in retail and wholesale trade.

Iowa's construction sector lost 500 jobs in November following two months of strong gains.

Education and health services have added the most jobs since November 2013 with a gain of 4,700 positions, followed by construction with 3,600 jobs and professional and business services with 3,000 hires.

Manufacturing employment has been sluggish during the second half of this year and is down 3,100 jobs, or 1.4 percent, compared with a year ago.