Local officials said low unemployment can be a double-edged sword, in that while there’s good news in the fact people are working, the bad news is it might make it harder for businesses to find skilled workers, which could hurt in recruiting and expansion of those businesses. Other city officials said there remains a need for better paying jobs. Increasing wages was one reason city leaders this year approved a large refrigeration plant near Veterans Memorial Highway and South 24th Street.

Only three of Iowa’s 99 counties – none in the southwest area – didn’t see a decline in unemployment, according to the figures released from the Iowa Workforce Development. In Harrison County, the unemployment rate dropped to 3.2 percent from 4.0 percent last year. Shelby County’s rate dropped to 2.7 percent from 3.2 percent last year. Mills County dropped to a 4.4 percent rate from a 4.6 percent rate. Montgomery County saw a drop to 3.4 percent from 4.2 percent. Cass County declined to 3.2 percent from 4.1 percent.

Iowa has the country’s fifth-lowest unemployment rate, the according to figures. The seasonal adjusted unemployment rate dipped to 3.7 percent in June, compared to 4.4 percent at the same time last year, the figures showed. This means 11,300 more jobs have been created since June 2014, the office said. State officials say it’s the fourth time this year, the unemployment rate is down, and as the low unemployment trend continues, encouraging gains are being seen in the retail sector. Approximately 3,000 new jobs in that sector were added in June alone.

The number of unemployed Iowans decreased to 63,700 in June, compared to the June 2014 total of 74,200. The U.S. unemployment rate dropped to 5.3 percent in June.