New Data: Iowa unemployment rises, over 65,000 Iowans without jobs
10,000 more Iowans don’t have jobs from August 2024 and unemployed people outnumber job openings
Des Moines – The Iowa Workforce and Development agency recently published new data on the economic outlook of our state. Unfortunately for Iowans, things continue to move in the wrong direction.
- Unemployment rose to 3.8%, up from 3.2% in August 2024 – over 10,000 more Iowans without jobs. In August 2025 alone, 900 Iowans were added to the unemployment rolls.
- 65,800 Iowans are now unemployed. Mirroring a national trend, there are more unemployed Iowans than job openings.
- There are 2,300 fewer jobs in Iowa than in August 2024.
Today’s report comes on the heels of John Deere announcing another round of layoffs – this time totalling over 140 workers in Waterloo and Ankeny.
“Something needs to change in Iowa,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart. “We have seen no positive economic news in months. Failed leadership from Kim Reynolds and Iowa Republicans has left our state 49th in the nation in economic growth and 48th in personal income growth. Now we have more unemployed workers than we have jobs for them to do. Republicans were elected to improve our economy and lower prices. Instead tariffs and hand-outs to special interests are raising prices and piling up debt. Iowa needs a change in 2026.”
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