Ankeny's Unemployment Rate Drops Slightly, As Does Iowa's

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

The town's unemployment rate was 3.1 percent in October. In November it was 3.0 percent, according to the report. In real numbers, the number of unemployed hovered at 800, but Ankeny's labor force and the number of employed also dipped slightly.

The unemployment rate also remained unchanged in the Des Moines metro, the state said, at 4.6 percent in November, the same as the month before.

In Polk County, unemployment fell from 5.5 percent in November 2011 to 4.8 percent a year later.

“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.