Posted 19 October, 2026
Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 3.2 percent in September for the fifth consecutive month, up from a jobless rate of 3.1 percent one year ago. The U.S. unemployment rate increased to 4.2 percent in September.
The total number of unemployed Iowans increased to 55,700 in September from 54,700 in August.
The total number of working Iowans decreased to 1,665,500 in September. This figure is 4,100 lower than August and 19,800 lower than one year ago. The labor force participation rate fell to 66.9 percent in September, down from 67.0 percent in August and 67.8 percent one year ago, due to a mix of retirements and workers returning to education.