Edited release
01/08/26
Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.5 percent in November – up from 3.3 percent one year ago but down from 3.7 percent in September.
There is no October rate due to the government shutdown.
The labor force participation rate was 67.5 percent in November, equaling the September rate and 0.6 percentage points higher than the November 2024 rate of 66.9 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4.6 percent in November.
The total number of unemployed Iowans increased by 5,100 compared to November 2024.
Beth Townsend, Executive Director of Iowa Workforce Development, said gains in health services, wholesale trade and construction unemployment were the sectors that added the most jobs.
Visit iowalmi.gov for more information about current and historical data, labor force data, nonfarm employment, hours and earnings, and jobless benefits by county.