Iowa job market holds its own in July

Hiring in  local government, manufacturing and construction helped Iowa maintain its 6 percent unemployment rate in July.

Iowa Workforce Development said unemployment was unchanged, even though the number of unemployed residents rose by 500 to 10,900 due to recent graduates entering the job market. The number of working Iowans slipped 7,500 from June.

Both the unemployment rate and the number of working Iowans remained better than in August 2010, when the jobless rate stood at 6.2 percent, and 2,200 fewer Iowans were employed.

Local government added 5,900, more than offsetting a big job decline in June. Manufacturing employment gained 1,800 jobs from June, while construction added 1,600.

Iowa Workforce Development Director Teresa Wahlert said both the manufacturing and construction sectors advanced to their highest employment levels for 2011 in July, offering "renwed optimism for a stronger performance in the second half of the year."

Nonfarm employment stood 18,300 jobs ahead of July 2010 levels.