Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in July was 2.7%, the same as it was in June, April and May, Iowa Workforce Development reported today. The state’s labor force participation rate increased to 68.8% in June, which was what it was in March 2020 just before the pandemic shut down Iowa’s economy.

“Iowa’s labor force participation increased for the fifth straight month, although we do see signs that some businesses are being cautious with hiring amid prolonged national economic uncertainty,” Beth Townsend, Workforce Development’s executive director, said in a prepared statement.

Overall, 47,700 Iowans were unemployed in July; in July 2022, 47,500 Iowans were unemployed.

In July, Iowa’s total nonfarm employment was 1,585,400, down slightly from June when nonfarm employment totaled 1,590,700. The drop in nonfarm employment was the third straight decline, according to a news release. Most of the job losses occurred in the service and goods-producing industries.

Specifically, leisure and hospitality shed 2,200 jobs. Most of the loss was attributed to restaurants paring jobs, the release said. Professional and business services lost 2,000 jobs and the trade, transportation and utilities sector, 900 jobs.

Over the past year, Iowa’s total nonfarm employment has increased by 14,400 jobs (1,571,000 in July 2022 to 1,585,400 in July 2023). The largest gains were made in education and health care, which added 10,100 jobs, the release said.

The U.S. unemployment rate in July was 3.5%, down slightly from June when it was 3.6%.