Posted 22 June, 2026
Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 3.2 percent in May, down from 3.3 percent in April and 3.6 percent one year ago. Meanwhile, the U.S. unemployment rate remained at 4.3 percent in May.
The total number of unemployed Iowans decreased to 56,100 in May from 57,200 in April.
The total number of working Iowans decreased to 1,676,100 in May. This figure is 1,800 lower than April and 1,600 higher than one year ago. Iowa’s labor force participation rate fell to 67.4 percent in May from 67.5 percent in April.
“With five months of 2026 data now available, the emerging trend is one of slow-but-steady growth in Iowa hiring,” said Beth Townsend, Executive Director of Iowa Workforce Development. “Employers across most Iowa industries are adding jobs on a regular basis even as unemployment insurance claims hover at near-record lows and the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund has a balance of more than $2.1 billion. At the same time, more than 57,000 unfilled jobs are posted on IowaWORKS.gov, so opportunity remains for anyone who’s looking to find a better position or embrace a new career.”