Iowa’s labor force participation rate held steady at 67% in March as 1,700 Iowans entered the labor force. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.4% in March, up slightly from 3.3% in February, according to new data from Iowa Workforce Development.

The total number of working Iowans increased to 1,664,000 in March, up 400 from February and 2,400 higher than one year ago. The total number of unemployed Iowans increased to 58,600 in March from 57,300 in February.

“March’s report shows increased hiring in key industries such as construction, transportation, and health care, while other areas with more temporary workers pulled back,” Beth Townsend, executive director of Iowa Workforce Development, said in a press release. “There remains over 50,000 open jobs in Iowa, and the IowaWORKS career planners and Reemployment Case Management team can help Iowans who are looking for work find available jobs and learn how to best position themselves in a competitive job market.”

Job growth in March was led primarily from the sectors of construction, education and health services, and trade, transportation and utilities, which collectively added 1,500 jobs. Overall, goods-producing industries increased slightly (200), while government employment was little changed since February.

Overall, Iowa firms shed 1,500 jobs in March, lowering total nonfarm employment to 1,592,300. This loss was largely attributed to private service industries lowering staffing levels. Following the March report, Iowa firms have now shed 11,800 jobs over the past 12 months.

Administrative support and waste management pared 1,200 jobs in March to lead all private sectors, which fueled a combined loss of 2,000 jobs in professional and business services. Professional, scientific and technical firms also shed 600 jobs. Leisure and hospitality lost 900 jobs. These losses were evenly split between recreational industries and accommodation and food services, the report said.

While trailing last year’s mark by 4,200, construction has added jobs in three of the last four months, gaining 1,300 jobs. Health care and social assistance employers are up 5,900 jobs for the year, and have continued to expand compared to last year’s mark. Manufacturing has shed the most jobs (-8,000) over the past 12 months, most of which stem from durable goods factories (-5,900). Professional and business services are also down since last year (-5,000), fueled by losses in administrative support and waste management.

There are 50,843 job openings in Iowa. Job growth during the past year was -11,800, according to Iowa Workforce Development.

The U.S. unemployment rate increased to 4.2% in March, up from 4.1% in February.

To read the full report, click here.