Unemployment down in Jasper County; labor force, too

The unemployment rate in Jasper County decreased in July, according to the latest data from Iowa Workforce Development. While the unemployment level fell from 7 percent in June to 6.9 percent in July, that was due in part to a decrease in the labor force itself. The residential civilian labor force in Jasper County fell to 17,590 in July — down from 18,070 in June. The total number of employed persons in the county fell from 16,810 to 16,380. Each month, Iowa Workforce Development releases employment data for counties and metropolitan areas around the state. Jasper County has had the highest unemployment rate in the state ever since Whirlpool shutdown production at Maytag Plant 2 last October. Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 4.3 percent in July from 4.0 percent in June. The current rate compares with 3.8 percent for the same month one year ago. “The state’s unemployment rate rose in July due to business disruptions caused by the June floods, and the toll that the housing slowdown is taking on residential construction and construction-related manufacturing,” said Elisabeth Buck, director of Iowa Workforce Development. “However, Iowa has not experienced the same negative effects felt nationally.”