Iowa employers added 3,600 jobs in August, led by the professional and business services sector as well as leisure and hospitality, new data from Iowa Workforce Development shows.

Iowa’s total nonfarm employment in August was 1,594,600, up from July’s 1,591,000, state data shows. In August 2024, Iowa’s total nonfarm employment was 1,596,900.

Sectors seeing job gains in August include professional and business services (1,800 jobs added), leisure and hospitality (1,200 jobs added), trade, transportation and utilities (900 jobs added) and government, which includes hiring by local schools and colleges and universities (700 jobs added).

Iowa added 1,900 people to its labor force in August, led primarily by people between 20 and 24 years old, according to the state’s news release. The state has 1,739,300 people in its civilian labor force; Iowa’s labor force participation rate in August was 67.5%.

Overall, Iowa’s unemployment rate for August was 3.8%, a slight increase from 3.7% in July. In August 2024, the state’s jobless rate was 3.2%.

The U.S. unemployment rate increased to 4.3% in August. It was 4.2% in July. To read the entire report, click here.