Iowa’s continuing weekly unemployment has dropped below mid-March levels. According to Iowa Workforce Development, unemployment totaled 54,461 people in mid-March when the COVID-19 pandemic began and for the week ending October 10th the continuing weekly unemployment was 46,577 people. There were 4,644 initial claims of unemployment last week. Unemployment insurance benefit payments were nearly $13 million. Industries with the highest claims of unemployment were manufacturing (860), self-employed or independent contractors (851), health care and social assistance (413), construction (351), and accommodation and food service (292).