Many Iowa communities lose government jobs in July

A seasonal loss of government jobs was felt in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and many other Iowa communities in July, according to Iowa Workforce Development.

Total non-farm employment in the Cedar Rapids metropolitan statistical area (MSA) shed 2,300 jobs from June and stands at 139,600 jobs. The July unemployment rate was 4.9 percent, unchanged from June, and employment remains 900 above a year ago.

A seasonal reduction of 2,300 jobs in local government employment represented the majority of the decline, however several other industries also shed jobs.

Educational and health services dropped 400 jobs as a result of the summer break.

Trade, transportation and warehousing decreased 200 jobs and leisure and hospitality pared 100 jobs. Natural resources and construction (+500 jobs) and professional and business services (+200 jobs) helped offset the losses.

Government has seen the greatest reduction in jobs over the year in the Cedar Rapids MSA with a loss of 900. Manufacturing is down just 100 jobs from a year ago.

Employment in natural resources and construction is now 700 above July 2012.

Non-farm employment in the Iowa City MSA shed 1,400 jobs from last month. Nearly all job losses were in state government and seasonal in nature. This is the expected seasonal pattern in June and July prior to the anticipated gains in August.

Professional and business services added 100 jobs and retail trade also added 100 jobs.

The July unemployment rate for the Iowa City MSA was 3.9 percent, up slightly from 3.8 percent in June. Employment remains 1,500 above a year ago and continues to hold at its highest level for the month.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls MSA total non-farm employment dropped 1,300 jobs from June and stands at 91,700. The unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in July, unchanged from the previous month.

A seasonal decrease in state government (700) and smaller losses in educational and health services (300), manufacturing (100) and trade, transportation and warehousing (100) all contributed to the July's decline. Government is the only industry in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls MSA with a year-over-year job loss.

The Dubuque MSA posted a modest seasonal loss in July as local government education broke for the summer. The metro area's  loss of 1,200 jobs is average for this time of year and leaves the Dubuque MSA's employment at 57,800 jobs, up 800 from a year ago.

Dubuque's unemployment rate dipped slightly to 4.5 percent in July from 4.6 percent in June.

The Des Moines MSA shed 3,700 jobs in July, lowering total employment to 334,800. Local government fueled most of the employment decline in July with a loss of 3,500 jobs as local schools began the summer break.

Private education also fueled a drop of 1,100 jobs in education and health services.  The only other decline for the Des Moines MSA was 200 professional and business services (-200) jobs.

Iowa Workforce Development on Monday reported the state's jobless rate of 4.8 percent in July, up from 4.6 percent in June. Kossuth County had the lowest jobless rate last month at 3.3 percent, and Lee County recorded the highest at 7.3 percent.

The U.S. Department of Labor said unemployment rates increased last month in 28 states. They were unchanged in 14 and fell in eight states - the fewest to show a decline since January.

The nation's unemployment rate fell to 7.4 percent in July, from 7.6 percent in June.