Hunter
05/22/20
Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate topped 10 percent in April, while the rate is closing in on 15 percent nationally.
In a release from Iowa Workforce Development Friday, director Beth Townsend said that April is the first month that the real effects of the coronavirus pandemic has had on the state. The number of unemployed Iowans went up by nearly 119,000 from March, resulting in an effective unemployment rate of 10.2 percent.
Last April’s unemployment rate was a minuscule 2.7 percent.
Governor Reynolds has eased restrictions on businesses this month, opening up restaurants, gyms, hair salons, barber shops, wedding reception venues, campsites and other entities, and announced that bars and other businesses selling alcohol can open on May 28th. All open businesses must adhere to mandated social distancing, capacity, and safety guidelines.
Unemployment nationally has reached 14.7 percent.
More details can be found at www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov.