Iowa jobless rate rises in April; string of job gains ends

Iowa's unemployment rate ticked upward once again in April, rising from 6.8 to 6.9 percent.

The state's unemployment rate is now 1.4 percent higher than a year ago. Iowa Workforce Development reported 116,800 Iowans out of work in April, compared to 92,300 in April 2009.

The state's nonfarm employment fell by 900 in April, to 1,472,700, ending a three-month string of job gains.

Iowa's trend was out of step with most states. Unemployment rates increased in only 6 states, while 34 states reported decreased unemployment rates and 10 registered no change, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Manufacturing jobs climbed a robust 2,900 in Iowa from March, but were more than offset by losses in leisure and hospitality (-1,200) education and health services (-1,400) government (-1,400) and trade (-900).

Total nonfarm employment is now 11,700 lower than a year ago.  The year-over-year losses have narrowed in the past few months, according to state officials, pointing to gradual improvement in Iowa's labor market.

Iowa's jobless rate compared to a nationwide unemployment rate of 9.9 percent in April, up from 9.7 percent in March.

Iowa Workforce Development Director Elisabeth Buck said the higher unemployment rate partly reflects an increase in workers re-entering the labor force because they think the job market is improving.

“Employers are hiring again, but not at the pace needed to substantially reduce the unemployment rate,” Buck said.

The biggest job gains of any state were in Ohio (+37,300), Pennsylvania (+34,000) and New York (+32,700).

Maine recorded the biggest job losses, at (-6,500) followed by Rhode Island (-4,400) and Colorado (-4,200).