Iowa Weekly Jobless Claims Show Short Term Spike, Long Term Stability

Unemployment claim form on an office table.

DES MOINES, Iowa - Weekly jobless claims in Iowa are are showing a short term spike, but long term stability.

First time claims rose by about 30 percent.

But ongoing weekly claims, which most accurately reflect the state's actual unemployment rate, are largely unchanged from the previous week

Iowa's overall unemployment rate is tied for fourth lowest in the country at 3.7 percent.

By the numbers, first time weekly jobless claims are rose by 2,250 from 5,005 to 7,255, a jump of about 30 percent. First time claims dropped 14 percent in the previous week.

First time claims can wobble by seemingly wide margins from week to week without greatly impacting overall longer range numbers.

Ongoing claims for the most recent week rose by just 46 from 33,500 to 33,546, reflecting a largely unmeasurable change.

Ongoing claims reached a peak in the early stages of the pandemic of more than 191,000 in late May of 2020.

For the week, unemployment insurance benefit payments totaled $10,240,551.03.

The following industries had the most claims:

  • Self-employed, Independent Contractors, etc. (1,578)
  • Manufacturing (1,533)
  • Retail Trade (529)
  • Accommodation & Food Services (477)
  • Health Care & Social Assistance (471)

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