Iowa’s unemployment rate declined from 8% in June to 6.6% in July. According to Iowa Workforce Development, last July, Iowa’s unemployment rate was 2.7%. Iowa Workforce Development Director Beth Townsend said July’s payrolls grew by 29,300.

Leisure and hospitality added the most jobs of any sector with 8,600 but that sector remains the hardest hit for job losses. Leisure and hospitality job figures are still down 31,700. In July there were 107,300 total people unemployed.

The state will be reinstating the work search requirement in two weeks for those receiving unemployment benefits.