December Unemployment Rate Update

January 28, 2022

Iowa’s unemployment rate decreased in December to 3.5%, according to the Iowa Workforce Development (IWD). This is down from 3.7% in November, as well as 3.7 from one year ago. IWD also reports the total number of unemployed Iowans decreased by 3,800 to 57,900 in December.


Iowa’s workforce increased by 5,200 between November and December. The total number of working Iowans in December was 1,604,800. IWD reports this is an increase by 45,200 from one year ago. IWD also reports the labor force participation rate increased to 66.9%.


“More than 45,000 Iowans joined the employed last year as Iowa reignited its focus on job growth and getting citizens back to work,” Director of Iowa Workforce Development Beth Townsend said. We intend to build on this momentum this year by using our Reemployment Case Management and other improvements to help more and more Iowans find new careers in 2022.”


Click here to read Iowa Workforce Development’s latest news release.