Iowa Workforce Development released data on July's unemployment rates and contrasting rates from a year ago.
Dubuque is higher than the state average of 2.8% with 3.8%, which is higher than last July when it was 2.9% for the county's unemployment rate.
Labor Market Research Economist Kris Henze says in a press release that Dubuque lost 400 jobs last month, lowering the total nonfarm employment to 60,900. Henze writes that the county shows lower staffing levels in private and government entities, but the decline is small compared to the past decade.
The release states private services lost 100 jobs while goods-producing industries gained 100 jobs.
Over the last year, Dubuque County added 1,200 jobs in total nonfarm employment, a 2% gain. The private sector accounted for 1,500 jobs, with trade, transportation, and utilities contributing 800 jobs.
Good-producing firms have lost around 200 jobs since last July while government jobs have been down by 100.
Scott County also showed an increase in the July unemployment rate of 4% compared to 3.6% last year. Clinton and Jackson counties also had increases in July unemployment rates compared to last year.
The only county in the WVIK listening area to show a decrease in the unemployment rate was Louisa