Iowa jobless rate climbs for second month

Iowa's unemployment rate ticked upward in August to 5.5 percent, even as the national unemployment rate edged down to 8.1 percent.

For Iowa, August brought the second consecutive monthly increase in the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate after a period of decline.

"The statewide economy is reacting to the effects of drought conditions, a global economic slowdown and the national uncertainty surrounding taxes and expenditure cuts," said Teresa Wahlert, Iowa Workforce Development director, in remarks released with jobless data.

The number of Iowans counted as unemployed increased by 2,100 from July's level, to 90,000. The number of Iowans counted as working declined 7,500, to 1,552,500.

The Iowa economy saw its largest seasonal job losses in leisure and hospitality, a decline of 2,100. The construction sector had its fourth consecutive month of job losses, a decline of 1,700.

The manufacturing sector, closely watched because of the quality of its ripple effects in the economy, was down 900 jobs in August.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics this morning reported the national unemployment rate dropped in August to 8.1 percent, down from 8.3 percent. The highest regional unemployment rate was in the west, at 9.4 percent, while the lowest was in the Midwest, at 7.5 percent, the bureau said.