Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 3.9 percent in August, up from 3.6 percent a year ago, according to Iowa Workforce Development. The U.S. unemployment rate also held steady at 4.6 percent from July.

The number of workers in Iowa fell to the lowest level in a year, with 1,591,800 people employed, down 4,600 from July. Meanwhile, nonfarm employment grew by 200 to 1,522,600, after a 900-person decline in the previous month.

Defying the national trend, employment in the construction industry increased by 600 workers in August. Government employment had the biggest gain, with an increase of 1,100 jobs. Meanwhile job losses of 200 or more occurred in manufacturing, trade and transportation, finance, and education and health.