July brought no improvement to local jobs picture

July brought no real improvement to the Corridor job picture, as nonfarm jobs contracted and unemployment rates barely budged.

The Linn County unemployment rate was stuck at 6.5 percent, while the Cedar Rapids metro unemployment rate went to 6.4 percent from June's 6.5 percent.

The Johnson County unemployment rate rose to 5 percent from 4.9 percent in June. The Iowa City metro unemployment rate moved to 5.1 percent from 5 percent in June.

Iowa's statewide jobless rate increased to 6.8 percent from 6.7 percent in June.

Nonfarm employment in the Cedar Rapids metropolitan statistical area fell 2,400 to 135,900.

Iowa Workforce Development said most of the job losses were seasonal, as local schools trimmed staffs for the summer. The number of such local government jobs declined 2,200, while educational and health services shed 300 jobs.

The Cedar Rapids metro area gained 200 jobs in natural resources and 100 in contruction. Both industries show improvement from year-ago levels, the report said.

Nonfarm employment in the Iowa City metropolitan statistical area fell 2,100 from June, to 88,400.

Iowa Workforce Development said the decreases resulted from large drops in state and local government as they wrap up their summer break staffing reductions. Retail trade shed 100 jobs. The professional and business services area gained 100 jobs.

Nearly every sector in the Iowa City area has shown job gains from one year ago. Retail trade is the lone exception, lagging by 300 jobs.