Unemployment rates fall in the Corridor

More people were working last month in the Corridor, leading to a drop in the estimated unemployment rates.

Iowa Workforce Development said the jobless rate in the Cedar Rapids metropolitan statistical area (MSA) dipped to 3.8 percent in September, from 4.3 percent in August.

The Cedar Rapids MSA added 900 nonfarm jobs from August. Total nonfarm employment reached 144,700 in September, 1,700 above the same month in 2015.

Employers with seasonal hiring carried the load last month with gains in education pushing employment up in two sectors, educational and health services and government. No other sectors recorded job gains.

A loss of 400 jobs in leisure and hospitality as well as smaller declines of 200 jobs each in professional and business services, and manufacturing - and 100 each in trade, transportation and warehousing, financial activities and other services - offset a good portion of the seasonal gains in education.

Government, manufacturing and information were the only sectors with year-over-year employment losses. Professional and business services led all sectors with a gain of 900 jobs, accompanied by several smaller gains.

The unemployment rate in the Iowa City MSA fell to 2.9 percent in September from 3.2 percent in August. A total of 96,200 residents were working last month, up 1,200 from 95,000 in August.

The Iowa City MSA added 1,000 nonfarm jobs from August. Total nonfarm employment reached 101,700 in September, 1,500 above the same month in 2015.

Government enjoyed the greatest gain, adding 1,000 jobs. Manufacturers shed 100 jobs, but that was offset by an equal gain in private service jobs.

The Iowa City metro area has added 2,300 jobs from September 2015 with gains in nearly every sector. The only exceptions are trade, transportation and warehousing and professional and business services. Manufacturing employment is unchanged from a year ago.