IOWA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT HAS RELEASED THE APRIL UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS. THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN IOWA ROSE TO 10.2 PERCENT IN APRIL, THE FIRST MONTH WHERE THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN FELT. IN A PRESS RELEASE, DIRECTOR BETH TOWNSEND SAID “THE SILVER LINING IN THIS MONTH’S REPORT IS THAT OVER 1.5 MILLION IOWANS REMAINED IN THE WORKFORCE DESPITE THE PANDEMIC AND THIS WILL DO THE MOST TO DECREASE OUR RECOVERY TIME.” THE NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED IOWANS JUMPED TO OVER 175,000 IN APRIL FROM OVER 56,000 IN MARCH.