Introduction

Iowa’s labor market strengthened in November, adding 4,600 jobs across seven of the state’s 11 major sectors. Education and health services accounted for the largest share of November’s gains (+1,100), driven almost entirely by health care and social assistance. Trade, transportation, and utilities (+1,000), manufacturing (+900), professional and business services (+800), leisure and hospitality (+400), information (+200) and financial activities (+100) also expanded. These increases were partially offset by losses in other services (-100), and government (-200).

Momentum also improved relative to last month’s report. From December 2024 to November 2025, Iowa has added 7,000 total nonfarm jobs—up sharply from the 2,400 reported through October. Private sector growth follows a similar pattern, rising to 7,000 jobs year-to-date compared to 2,200 previously. Even with November’s stronger gains, 2025 remains the second-weakest post-pandemic year for job growth, but the ongoing momentum marks a clear improvement over the first half of the year.

Other labor market indicators are also positive. Iowa’s unemployment rate dipped to 3.5% in November, advancing to 12th lowest nationally from 17th in September. The labor force participation rate held steady at 67.5%, putting Iowa at 6th highest nationally but still below the state’s pre-pandemic level of 69.5% in January 2020.

November’s results provide a strong signal of labor-market improvement in 2025, with broader sector participation and meaningful upward momentum to cumulative job growth.

Key Findings—Iowa November 2025 Employment Data

• In November, Iowa gained 4,600 jobs. Eight of 11 major sectors contributed to this gain.
  •  Education and health services contributed most to this gain with 1,100 jobs. Nearly all these new jobs (900) were health care and social assistance jobs.
  • Government saw the largest monthly decline, losing 200 jobs.
• Revisions indicate September performed lower than expected by 1,300 total nonfarm jobs.
  • Industry Revisions: Construction saw the largest downward revision with 600 gained jobs lost. Education and health services saw the largest upward revision, increasing by 200 jobs.
• Iowa has the 12th lowest unemployment rate in the nation, up five spots from September.
  • Unemployment: Iowa’s unemployment rate was 3.5% in November, down 0.2% from September.
• Iowa labor force participation rate ranks 6th in the nation, down one spot from September.
  • LFPR: Iowa’s LFPR was 67.5% in November, unchanged from September.
• From December ‘24 to November ‘25, the private sector has gained 7,000 jobs.
  • Total nonfarm employment has gained 7,000 jobs over this same period.
• From January ‘21 to November ’25, Iowa’s private sector jobs increased by 4.6%.
  • The national private sector grew 12.4% over this same period.

Establishment vs. Household Survey

• According to both the employment figures from the BLS survey of establishments (CES) and the number of people employed from the BLS survey of households (LAUS), Iowa has yet to recover to a pre-pandemic employment-to-population ratio.
• Based on the establishment survey, employment grew by 4,600 or 0.29%.
• Based on the household survey, employment grew by 7,034 jobs or 0.42%.

Revisions 

• United States – In January, the BLS revised September 2025 seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment nationally downward by 19,400 (-0.01%).
• Iowa – In January, the BLS revised September 2025 seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment downward by 1,300 (-0.08%).
•  Iowa by Sector – In January, the BLS revised September 2025 seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment for the following major sectors:
  • Construction downward 600 jobs (-0.67%).
  • Professional and business services downward by 400 jobs (-0.28%).
  • Manufacturing (-0.09%) and trade, transportation, and utilities downward by 200 jobs (-0.06%).
  • Leisure and hospitality downward by 100 jobs (-0.07%).
  • Education and health services upward by 200 jobs (0.08%).

Iowa’s Post-Pandemic Growth

• From December 2024 to November 2025, Iowa added 7,000 nonfarm jobs to its economy. Despite strong growth in recent months, this year continues to rank as the second worst post-pandemic year for job growth.
• The private sector is also up 7,000 jobs since December 2024.
• Since January 2021, Iowa’s private employment has grown 4.6%—up from last month’s 4.2%.
• Over the same period, U.S. private employment has grown 12.4%—up from 12.3% last month.

A Deeper Dive into Iowa Industries (BLS CES Survey) 

• Based on the establishment survey, the net increase of 4,600 jobs in November was driven by net job gains in 8 of 11 major sectors.
  • Education and health services gained 1,100 jobs (0.45%).
  • Health care and social assistance contributed 900 jobs to this industry’s gains.
  • Trade, transportation, and utilities gained 1,000 jobs (0.32%).
  • Construction gained 900 jobs (1.01%).
  • Professional and business services gained 800 jobs (0.57%).
  • Leisure and hospitality gained 400 jobs (0.29%).
  • Information gained 200 jobs (1.12%).
  • Financial activities gained 100 jobs (0.10%).
• Two sectors saw a net loss in jobs from October to November.
  • Government lost 200 jobs (-0.07%).
  • Other services lost 100 jobs (-0.18%).

Iowa Labor Force Update

• In November, Iowa’s LFPR was unchanged at 67.5%, 2 percentage points below the pre-pandemic LFPR of 69.5% in January 2020.
  • Iowa ranked 6th highest in labor force participation among 50 states, up one spot from the previous month.
• Iowa’s unemployment rate in November fell 0.2% from 3.7% to 3.5%.
  • Iowa ranked 12th lowest in unemployment rate among all 50 states, up five spots from September’s rank of 17th lowest.

Data Sources

The data in this report are compiled from monthly and annual data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), including data from the Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey and the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) Survey. Some data are sourced directly from BLS and others are retrieved from FRED.