DES MOINES – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 3.0 percent for October. The state’s jobless rate was 3.6 percent one year ago. The U.S. unemployment rate dropped to 4.1 percent in October. “Iowa’s unemployment rate dropped to its lowest level since January, 2001. This is great news for Iowa’s economy as we move into the holiday season,” said Beth Townsend, Iowa Workforce Development Director. “Our biggest gains this past month occurred in the manufacturing sector, which is the backbone of many of Iowa’s rural communities and economy at large. This sector has grown 6,000 jobs in the last year.” The number of unemployed Iowans decreased to 51,000 in October. The current estimate is 9,800 lower than the year ago level of 60,800.  The total number of working Iowans increased to 1,635,700 in October. This figure was 3,400 higher than September and 500 lower than one year ago.

Seasonally Adjusted Non-farm Employment

Employment in Iowa establishments was little changed compared to last month and held at 1,586,700 jobs in October. Gains in Iowa’s goods-producing sectors were exactly matched by losses in service industries. Private industries pared jobs for the second-consecutive month and were led by losses in trade. On the other hand, government added 1,100 jobs due to growth at the state and local levels. Following this month’s report, total nonfarm employment is now up 13,500 jobs versus last year’s mark, a gain of 0.9 percent.

Manufacturing led all sectors in jobs added in October (+2,200). This month’s gain for manufacturing is the second consecutive, and the fifth in the last six months. The majority of the jobs gained were in nondurable goods factories. Firms involved in food production and fabricated metal production added staff in October. Leisure and hospitality also added jobs in October (+1,800) with all of the growth stemming from accommodations and food services. Construction increased slightly in October (+500), snapping a streak of losses stretching back to April.

Alternatively, trade, transportation, and utilities pared the most jobs of any super sector in October (-2,300). The losses were sharpest in retail trade (-1,000) which has shown some signs of weakness throughout the year. Annual losses have been evident in both food and beverage stores along with general merchandise retailers. Other services shed 1,300 jobs in October and professional and business services lost 1,200 jobs. Within this sector, administrative and support and waste management alone lost 1,400 jobs since September but remains up 900 jobs annually. Other sectors posting small losses this month included education and healthcare, information, and financial activities.

Compared to last October, no sector has added more jobs in Iowa than manufacturing (+6,000) with the majority of the gains stemming from nondurable goods factories (+4,100). The annual growth in manufacturing marks a substantial turnaround for the sector that had lost jobs annually as recently as June of this year. Education, health care, and social assistance follows closely behind with 5,800 jobs added and leisure and hospitality is third with 4,400 jobs gained. Losses have been greatest in construction (-5,300) following a record-setting year last year that included several large-scale industrial projects.

A traffic stop at around 1:40-a.m. today (Friday), in Clarinda, resulted in the discovery of drugs in the vehicle and the arrest of the driver. Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports officers arrested 51-year old Richard Lance Adkisson, of New Market.  He was arrested for driving on suspicion of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of controlled substances, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Adkisson was being held in the Page County Jail on $2,300 bail.

Police reports have been submitted to the offices of Page County Attorney Carl M. Sonksen for review regarding the filing of formal charges.

MARION, Iowa (AP) — Police say no one was hurt when a World War II hand grenade was found in a Marion home. Cedar Rapids television station KCRG reports that police were called about a possible live grenade Thursday afternoon. They reported finding the relic while cleaning. A member of the Marion/Linn County bomb squad went to the house to examine the device and remove it.

Police say they don’t known if the device was still functional. No one was hurt, and no property was damaged.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports 45-pounds of marijuana was seized into evidence Wednesday afternoon, after a Minnesota man was pulled over for speeding 62 miles per hour in a 55-zone. Deputy Brian Miller conducted the traffic stop near mile marker 7 on Interstate 80 at around 1-p.m., Wednesday. While speaking with the driver, 47-year old Vang Her, of Lake Elmo, MN.,, Deputy Miller detected the odor of marijuana coming from Her’s 2018 Ford F-150 pickup.

A probable cause search was conducted, during which several bags of marijuana were located in the bed of the truck. Her was arrested for Drug Possession with the Intent to Deliver. He was booked into the Pott. County Jail without incident.