Iowa’s initial claims for unemployment rose last week while the continuing weekly unemployment figures dropped. According to Iowa Workforce Development, in the week ending November 7th, there were 5,576 initial claims of unemployment, an increase of 967. The weekly unemployment claims tallied 35,660 people, a decrease of 1,322 from the previous week.

According to Iowa Workforce Development, nearly 45% of claimants indicated their claims were not COVID-19 related and the department says traditionally November through February are the highest in unemployment claims. The industries with the most unemployment claims November 1st through the 7th were manufacturing (1,005), self-employed or independent contractors (743), construction (634), health care and social assistance (629), and retail trade (365).