Iowa firms shed 1,100 jobs in February, ending a three-month streak of jobs gains, new data from Iowa Workforce Development shows.

The job loss in February was mostly fueled by lower-than-expected seasonal hiring at the state’s public universities and colleges, according to the state agency. Collectively, the government (a sector that includes federal, state and local subdivisions, and schools, universities and public hospitals) shed 3,400 jobs in February after gaining 2,900 jobs in January.

The federal government, which is in the midst of shrinking its workforce, did not shed any Iowa jobs in February, workforce data shows. In fact, it added 100 jobs in February, boosting the state’s total number of federal workers to 18,500.

Overall, the state had 1,594,800 total nonfarm workers in February, down from 1,595,900 in January, according to the agency. In February 2024, the state’s total nonfarm employment was 1,602,200.

Iowa’s unemployment rate in February was 3.3%, the same as it was in January and December.
The U.S. unemployment rate in February was 4.1%, up slightly from January’s rate of 4.%.

To read the entire report, click here.