The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.

Iowa’s unemployment rate decreased by 0.1 percent to 3.7 percent in September, according to new data that was delayed by last month’s federal government shutdown, according to the state.

Iowa’s 3.7 percent unemployment rate in September was lower than the national rate of 4.4 percent but higher than the 3.3 percent rate in Iowa in September of 2024.

While Iowa had a higher unemployment rate and 8,400 more unemployed Iowans this September compared to 2024, the state also had 24,600 more people working and a higher labor force participation rate in September of 2025 compared to the year prior.

Iowa Workforce Development is working with the federal government to get job numbers for October and

See Full Page