Unemployment rates rise in Corridor Jobs lost in construction, leisure and hospitality

Cedar Rapids and Iowa City unemployment rates edged higher last month while the state jobless rate was unchanged from November, according to Iowa Workforce Development.

The Cedar Rapids metropolitan area unemployment rate rose to 3.6 percent in December from 3.3 percent the previous month. A total of 138,000 people were employed, down from 138,600 in November.

Financial activities and educational and health services were the only two sectors with employment gains over the month, adding 100 jobs each. Professional and business services shed 400 jobs.

Natural resources and construction and government experienced seasonal declines of 300 jobs each and leisure and hospitality dropped 200 jobs, also a seasonal decline.

Total nonfarm employment in the metropolitan area has added 2,000 jobs from December 2014.

The Iowa City metro area unemployment rate edged up to 2.5 percent in December from 2.2 percent in November. A total of 94,500 people were employed last month, down from 95,100 in November.

Nonfarm employment in the Iowa City metro area is down 800 jobs from November, primarily due to seasonal reductions in government (600 jobs) and leisure and hospitality (200 jobs). Trade, transportation and warehousing was unchanged from November 2015 and December 2014.

Iowa's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 3.4 percent in December. The state's jobless rate was 4.3 percent in December 2014.

'Iowa's nonfarm employment gained jobs for the ninth time this year, expanding by 1,100 jobs in December,” said Beth Townsend, director of Iowa Workforce Development.

The number of unemployed Iowans fell to 58,300 in December from 58,800 in November. The total number of working Iowans increased to 1,650,500 in December, 3,200 higher than November.

Private sectors fueled the job growth in December with government reducing 1,100 jobs due to early release of local government workers.

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