Iowa employers shed 3,300 jobs in December, primarily in the areas of private services and manufacturing, new data from Iowa Workforce Development shows. Iowa’s total nonfarm employment in December was 1,595,500, down from November when it was 1,598,800, state data shows. Sectors that lost jobs in December include trade, transportation and utilities (2,700) and manufacturing (1,300). Overall, Iowa’s unemployment rate in December was 3.5%, the same as it was in November and up slightly from a year ago when it was 3.3%. Iowa’s labor force participation rate in December was 67.7%; a year ago it was 66.9%. The U.S. unemployment rate in December was 4.4%. To read the entire report, click here.