How many jobs were added in Iowa last month?
Refreshed monthly
Iowa gained 2,400 jobs in August 2026, ranking it 19th among states in job growth. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state 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 state has averaged about 648 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
+2.4K
month to month change in number of jobs (August 2026)
19th
rank among states in monthly job growth (August 2026)
Iowa’s job growth of 2,400 in August 2026 was a directional change from the previous month. The latest monthly job change was up from the 2,800 loss in July 2026.
During the latest five year period (September 2021 to August 2026), Iowa gained jobs in 34 out of 60 months. August 2026 had the 16th-highest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in February 2024 (+14,000) while job growth was weakest in January 2024 (-11,500).
There were 2,400 more jobs in August 2026 in Iowa than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, September 2021–August 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which Iowa sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in August 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in August 2026 were accommodation and food services, durable goods, and health care and social assistance. Accommodation and food services added 1,000 jobs. Durable goods gained 900 jobs, while health care and social assistance added 700 jobs. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The three lowest-performing supersectors were administrative and support and waste management and remediation services, transportation, warehousing, and utilities, and arts, entertainment, and recreation. Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services lost 900 jobs in August 2026, while transportation, warehousing, and utilities lost 900 jobs and arts, entertainment, and recreation lost 300 jobs.
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The health care and social assistance sector gained 700 jobs during August 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Iowa (August 2026)
How has Iowa's job growth changed over time?
In 2025, Iowa lost an average of 1,392 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly decrease of 517, and the lowest since 2020. The 2025 average ranks as third-lowest in job growth since 2007.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 4,000 on average every month in 2009 to a gain of 2,100 on average every month in 2022.
In 2025, Iowa lost an average of 1,400 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Job growth among eight metro areas primarily in Iowa during August 2026 ranged from a loss of 800 jobs in the Ames, IA area to a gain of 200 jobs in the Dubuque, IA area.
Monthly job growth, by metro area
Metro areas where at least one of its primary counties are within Iowa
| Metro area | Change in jobs | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | +1,200 | |
| 2. | +200 | |
| 3. | +0 | |
| 4. | -100 | |
| 5. | -100 | |
| 6. | -400 | |
| 7. | -500 | |
| 8. | -800 | |
| 9. | -800 |
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
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.
