Iowa companies shed 4,800 jobs in September, the third straight month of losses, data released today from Iowa Workforce Development shows.

Since June, Iowa firms have shed 6,600 jobs, according to the state agency. Iowa’s total nonfarm unemployment is now just over 1.6 million.

“The September report is evidence that many Iowa businesses remain reluctant to hire due to uncertainty about the direction of the national economy,” Beth Townsend, the agency’s executive director, said in a prepared statement. “This ‘wait and see’ attitude we are seeing in hiring is unlikely to subside until after the upcoming election.”

Specifically, health care and social assistance lost 2,200 jobs in September, the most of any industry, according to agency data. In the past two months, health care and social assistance has shed 4,100 jobs that have been spread throughout the sector’s industries.

Other job losses were in government and professional and business services, both down 900 jobs. Private education lost 400 jobs.

Iowa’s unemployment rate in September was 2.9%, the same as it was in August. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.1%, a slight decline from August, when it was 4.2%.

To read the entire report, click here.