How many jobs were lost in Waterloo, IA area last month?
Updated Apr. 14, 2026Refreshed annually
It lost 600 jobs in January 2026. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ state and local employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA Metro Area has averaged about 38 fewer jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
-600
month to month change in number of jobs (January 2026)
The Waterloo, IA area job loss of 600 in January 2026 was larger than the 500 jobs lost in December 2025.
During the latest five-year period (February 2021 to January 2026), the Waterloo, IA area gained jobs in 24 out of 60 months. January 2025 had the sixth-highest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in January 2025 (+2,400) while job growth was weakest in November 2021 (-2,700).
There were 600 fewer jobs in January 2026 in Waterloo, IA area
Monthly change in nonfarm employment in the Waterloo, IA area
How does the Waterloo, IA area job growth in 2025 compare to previous years?
In 2026, the Waterloo, IA area has lost an average of 333 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2025 average monthly decrease of 83, and the lowest since 2020. The 2026 average ranks as second-worst in job growth since 2020.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 2,600 every month in 2009 to a gain of 1,900 every month in 2011.
In 2025, the Waterloo, IA area lost an average of 83 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs in the Waterloo, IA area, seasonally adjusted
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
