Corridor jobless rate rises in June

The unemployment rates in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City rose last month primarily because of seasonal job losses in education.

Cedar Rapids' jobless rate increased to 4.6 percent in June from 4.2 percent in May as 6,800 residents were unemployed, compared with 6,200 the previous month. The June unemployment rate was still lower than the 4.9 percent recorded in June 2013, according to Iowa Workforce Development.

Total nonfarm employment in the Cedar Rapids metropolitan statistical area gained 1,200 jobs from May and stands at 143,800. Employment is 1,600 above a year ago.

Professional and business services and leisure and hospitality each added 500 jobs from May. Manufacturing and natural resources and construction each added 200 jobs from the previous month.

Education, health services and government shed employment in June.

In the Iowa City MSA, the jobless rate rose to 3.6 percent in June from 3 percent in May. A total of 3,400 residents were unemployed last month, compared with 2,900 in May. The June figure still was lower than the 3.8 percent jobless rate recorded in June 2013.

Nonfarm employment in the Iowa City MSA decreased 2,400 jobs from May. The seasonal change was largely because of the beginning of summer break in education.

Goods producing industries added 200 jobs in June and 500 from June of last year.