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A Bright Economic Forecast if Enough Workers Can Be Found

Iowa Business Council

The state’s largest employers are anticipating economic growth over the next six months. An ongoing shortage of quality workers may get in the way.

The quarterly Economic Outlook Survey from the Iowa Business Council shows 80 percent of its members expect higher sales through summer. To meet demand, half say they will increase capital spending and nearly half forecast hiring more workers. The problem, says the Council’s executive director Georgia Van Gundy, is attracting and retaining a quality workforce in Iowa.

“We have our 2.8 percent unemployment rate, and Iowa ranks fourth as far as the number of people already employed in the workforce," she says. "We just don’t have a lot of people to draw from."

Van Gundy says an alliance of business leaders and educators has been formed to get at the root of the problem.

“So our first meeting In February was great and our members had the opportunity to talk about what their challenges are and we had a great conversation about how we start moving forward,” she says.

A release from the Iowa Business Council says member companies also report the cost of healthcare is another primary concern.