The Quad Cities metro area ended the quarter with approximately 179,200 nonfarm payroll jobs, which was about 2,600 jobs fewer than the 181,800 jobs in March 2024 (not seasonally adjusted). 

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the metro area gained 1,100 jobs since the end of the fourth quarter.

At the end of the first quarter, the unemployment rate in the metro area was 4.6% up slightly from 4.4% a year ago. Unemployment rates in the Chamber service area ranged from 4.0% in Muscatine County to 5.1% in Mercer County. For comparison, the statewide unemployment rate in Iowa was 3.4% in March. The statewide unemployment rate for Illinois (excluding the Chicago area) was 4.3%.

The Quad Cities labor market is in the process of stabilizing after last summer's layoffs. The increase in seasonally adjusted jobs is an indication that there is hiring taking place beyond the normal expected seasonal amount. This is helping to recover some of the jobs that have been lost over the last year though total employment remains lower than a year ago.

In our Weekly Economic Trends and Indicators blog (May 19), we examined recent trends in employment in the Quad Cities area in more detail.