Jobless rate unchanged in Cedar Rapids

The unemployment rate in Cedar Rapids was unchanged last month from April at 4.2 percent while Iowa City's jobless rate edged up to 3 percent in May from 2.8 percent the previous month.

Iowa Workforce Development on Tuesday reported that 141,300 people in the Cedar Rapids metropolitan statistical area were employed in May, up from 141,000 in April. The unemployment rate of 4.2 percent compares favorably with the 4.8 percent jobless rate recorded in May 2013.

Natural resources and construction added 600 jobs from last month. From February to May the industry has added 1,600 jobs. This is the greatest February-to-May gain seen in at least two decades and a much stronger showing than last year when half as many jobs were added through the same period.

Manufacturing added 200 jobs from last month and employs 100 more than a year ago. Information dropped 100 jobs from last month and is down 300 from last year. The industry is at the lowest since October 1995.

In the Iowa City MSA, 95,100 people were employed in May, down slightly from 95,200 in April. This is compared with 3.2 percent in May 2013.

Nonfarm employment in the Iowa City area increased 600 jobs from last month, setting a record high employment level at 99,500. The area has added 3,000 jobs from one year ago.

Goods producing industries added 400 jobs in May and 500 from May of last year. Leisure and hospitality added 300 in May and 500 from one year ago.

All industries have added jobs from a year ago with the greatest number of additional jobs in government with 700 positions. Government also was the only sector to shed jobs from last month, dropping 300, as expected with the school year ending.

Iowa's unemployment rate rose to 4.4 percent in May from 4.3 percent in April.

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