A record number of Iowans were working last month, according to a new report from Iowa Workforce Development. I-W-D spokesman, Ed Wallace, says the state’s jobless rate in April dropped 3.8 percent, down from 4 percent in March.
The total number of working Iowans increased to 1,647,700 in April. That’s 600 higher than March and 23,700 higher than one year ago. The dip in Iowa’s unemployment rate in April occurred despite the loss of 1,700 jobs in non-farm employment.
Prior to April, the last drop in non-farm employment in Iowa occurred in September of 2014. The loss in non-farm jobs last month was heavily influenced by losses in manufacturing and trade and transportation, according to Wallace. the manufacturing sector trimmed 3,200 jobs in April while trade and transportation lost 1,000 jobs.
The construction sector added 2,400 jobs in April due to strong hiring for highway and infrastructure projects. The IWD report shows 65,500 Iowans were unemployed in April. That’s down from 74,100 just one year ago.
