The director of Iowa Workforce Development has announced that the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for November increased by one-tenth of a point from October, now standing at 3.1%.
According to Workforce Director Beth Townsend, the rise in numbers was anticipated, despite the expected influx of seasonal workers for the holiday period.
“No, it was not unexpected.” “We’ve been observing a consistent rise for an extended period, attributed to anxiety and uncertainty surrounding the national election,” Townsend states. “Therefore, I am not surprised.”
The national unemployment rate increased for the month, reaching 4.2%, which is over a full percentage point higher than Iowa’s rate. According to Townsend, Iowa generally outperforms the national statistics.
“Our labor force participation rate is significantly higher,” she states. In a notable development, the national labor force participation rate stands at 62.5%. However, in November 2024, a significant increase was observed in our local rate, which has risen to 66.3%. This marks a positive trend for the region. The goal is to observe an upward trend.
According to Townsend, the report highlighted a positive development: hundreds of Iowans have re-entered the labor force in pursuit of employment.
“The rate appears to indicate some lingering uncertainty, and the brief period between the election and the month’s end did not allow for significant new hiring or related activities that could lower the unemployment rate,” she states. “However, we did observe an increase in workforce participation, which is a positive development.” According to reports, the attendance reached 1,600 individuals, prompting significant satisfaction among the organizers.
According to Townsend, there is a possibility of improved figures for December; however, she acknowledges that a substantial increase may not occur until the spring season.
“Well, I would hope so,” Townsend states. “However, considering that the new administration has yet to commence and there have not been substantial changes in economic policy at this moment, a delay is expected between the arrival of a new administration and the implementation of their policies, as well as the time it takes for businesses and the economy to adjust.”
More than 50,000 job openings remain available on IowaWorks.gov, according to Townsend, who advises those seeking new employment opportunities to log in and explore their options.
