Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 6 percent in May as the U.S. unemployment rate rose to 9.1 percent from 9 percent in April.

U.S. employers hired only 54,000 workers, the fewest in eight months, according to an analysis of federal data by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD).

“Iowa outperformed the nation in May by posting its strongest job growth for the year,” said IWD Director Teresa Wahlert. “The state marked its fifth consecutive month of job gains led by strong hiring in the manufacturing sector.”

Statewide, the number of unemployed persons fell to 100,900 in May from 101,600 in April.

A year ago, 102,100 Iowans were unemployed. Most of the gains in state’s nonfarm employment were attributed to hiring in the leisure and hospitality sector, which added 8,500 jobs on a year-over-year basis.

Governments shed 3,700 jobs in Iowa during the past year, and the finance sector lost 1,600 jobs. The number of information services workers dropped by 1,100 from a year ago.