Ames Unemployment Rate Continues to Fall, As Does Iowa's

Ames' unemployment rate fell in November, continuing a downward trend, according to the latest report from Iowa Workforce Development.

The town's unemployment rate was 3.1 in October and in November it fell to 2.8 percent, according to the report. The numbers were not seasonally adjusted.

Story County's unemployment rate also dropped a few points from 3.3 to 3.1. And though the area has remained in a relatively good position through the recession, Iowa's unemployment rate dropped below 5 percent the first time since 2008.

“Iowa’s unemployment rate reached a milestone in November,” said Teresa Wahlert, director of Iowa Workforce Development, in a news release. “November marked the first time since December 2008 that the state’s jobless rate was lower than 5.0 percent.”

Across Iowa, the unemployment rate fell from October's 5.1 percent to 4.8 percent in December. Nationally, the rate fell from 7.9 to 7.7 percent.

Ames unemployment rate peaked at 5.3 percent in June of 2011 and has slowly declined since, according to records available online. The lowest rate in 2012 was 2.7 percent in September.