DES MOINES, Iowa - Iowa's weekly jobless claims are a mixed bag, First time claims are up about 15 percent from the previous week.
But ongoing claims, which reflect the state's actual unemployment rate, are largely unchanged.
Iowa currently has the fourth lowest unemployment rate in the country at 3.6 percent.
Ongoing claims are down by almost 80 percent from their pandemic high mark back in May.
The state says weekly jobless claims normally increase during the holiday period when seasonal layoffs occur.
By the numbers, weekly jobless claims are up 1,119,from 6,526 to 7,645, reflecting the nearly 15 percent increase.
Ongoing claims are largely unchanged, increasing by only 200, for a total of 38,318
By comparison, ongoing claims reached a peak in the early stages of the pandemic of more than 191,000 in late May.
Unemployment insurance benefit payments totaled $12,191,938.58, down from $12,564,372.83, in the previous week.
The following industries had the most claims:
- Construction (2,045)
- Manufacturing (1,005)
- Industry Not Available - Self-employed, Independent Contractors, etc (753)
- Administrative, Support, Waste Management, and Remediation Services (710)
- Accommodation & Food Services (436)