The unemployment rate remained at 6.8 percent through the month of August, while the national unemployment rate was nearly unchanged at 9.6 percent, according to a news release Tuesday by the Iowa Department of Workforce Development.

However, the actual number of residents unemployed went up to 114,200 in August from 113,300 in July.

Out of 2,500 government jobs that were lost, 1,100 were census workers ending their work. State and local government lost a combined 1,400 workers, according to the department. Since last year, government employment has pared 7,100 jobs.

Leisure and hospitality employers posted a loss of 900 employees.

However, not all sectors laid off workers.

“The August job numbers show that modest improvement has occurred over the past year,” said Elisabeth Buck, director of Iowa Workforce Development.

Manufacturing led Iowa’s job gains with 1,200 added, and health care services added 900.

“Corporate balance sheets are in much better shape than they were a year ago, making it more likely that hiring will strengthen in the months ahead,” Buck said.