Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 2.5% in July, the seventh straight month the rate has declined, Iowa Workforce Development reported today. In June the state’s unemployment rate was 2.6%, and in July 2021 it was 5.4%. According to the release, the number of unemployed Iowans fell to 43,300 in July from 43,900 in June. The state’s labor participation rate remained at 67.8% in July. In the past year, Iowa firms have added 33,900 jobs, 30% of which, or 10,100 were in the leisure and hospitality sector, according to the release. Manufacturing has added 7,700 jobs in the past year and trade, transportation and utilities, 5,000 jobs. The U.S. unemployment rate in July was 3.5%.