With over five times the computer programmers than farmers and nearly twenty times the educators, the shape of Iowa employment has shifted from a predominately agricultural to a thoroughly 21st century model. From wind energy, information services, advanced manufacturing, biofuels and biotech – the Iowa employment situation is bustling with lucrative opportunities. High quality of life, low cost of living and more jobs than most of the nation, Iowa carries an excellent resume for today’s job-seekers.
Iowa unemployment
Iowa unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) increased from October 2008 to October 2009 by 2.4% to a rate of 6.7%
[Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics]
Iowa Employment Opportunities
Iowa’s diversified economy has spared it from many economic storms, while the state has routinely ranked near the top in measures of quality of life (5th by the Congressional Quarterly Press, 2008). Its strong economy has allowed it to build an infrastructure of top schools, state parks and public safety — making Iowa employment opportunities some of the best and most desirable anywhere.
Iowa’s success can be traced to the role of education in the state. Iowa is a smart state. With over two dozen baccalaureate degree granting colleges, fifteen community colleges, and one of the highest high school graduation rates in the nation, Iowa’s high schools, colleges and universities produce a superior, intelligent workforce. This workforce provides a large source of jobs. Iowa employment in education, combined with the health care sector, is the second largest component of the workforce; over 200,000 Iowans are engaged in some type of education or health-care work.
Iowa employment rates are historically in the top ten of the 50 states. When the rest of the country suffers higher unemployment, there is less pain in Iowa. In July of 2009, the national unemployment rate was 9.4 percent, Iowa’s was 6.5 percent. All of Iowa’s eight major metropolitan regions enjoy lower unemployment rates than the national average. The quality of Iowa employment is also remarkable: Iowa’s median household income was $47,292 compared to the national median household income of $41,994 (2000 U.S. Census). Comparatively lower housing and consumer costs mean Iowans enjoy more discretionary income for those dollars.
Iowa’s position as the second largest producer of wind energy in the U.S. and technology savvy workforce guarantees that new economy jobs in fields such as renewable energy, information and biotechnology will continue to grow. Still the number one corn and hog producer in the U.S., Iowa’s agricultural roots fostered a strong biotechnology emphasis at the University of Iowa, and attracted major international agri-business companies to the state, who stayed for the quality of life. Encouraging and keeping Iowa employment competitive, the Iowa Department of Economic Development offers financial assistance to businesses in the biosciences, advanced manufacturing and information services, which also encourages jobseekers by providing extensive listings at their website (http://www.iowajobs.org/).
Iowa Employment Resources
Comprehensive job listings and information about Iowa employment career moves are made simpler through the job bank at the Iowa Department of Workforce Development their website (http://www.iowajobs.org/), professional and technical listings can be found at (http://www.smartcareermove.com). They also maintain another site dedicated to providing general information about Iowa itself, its business climate, programs encouraging entrepreneurship, and educational resources (http://www.iowalifechanging.com/). Much of Iowa’s economic success stems from their pro-business government. State and local government itself is one of the largest sources of employment in Iowa, further information and online applications for these government jobs is available at http://das.hre.iowa.gov/state_jobs.html.
Generation Iowa (http://www.generationiowa.com/index.asp) is designed to be a one-stop online location for students, young graduates or people simply looking for a career or location change. Instead of providing only passive information about jobs, Generation Iowa uses social networking tools and allows participants to post information about themselves. Students and recent graduates can earn practical experience through internships at one of the many major Iowa corporations. Application information about dozens of corporate internships and further education is available at http://www.smartcareermove.com/internships.aspx.
Healthcare workers can access a special job bank by the National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network for Healthcare Professionals (http://www.3rnet.org/locations/?state=IA).
Educators have a job bank run by Teach Iowa (http://www.iowaeducationjobs.com/).
Engineers can find positions through the Iowa Engineering Society (http://www.iaengr.org/).
Iowa Living Conditions
Families in Iowa can depend on their children being raised in one of the safest, smartest, cleanest, and friendliest states in the country. Violent crime in Iowa is almost 25 % lower than the national average. The murder rate is less than half. High school students not only graduate from high school at one of the highest rates in the country, those students rank 2nd in the nation on the SAT college assessment test. This educational advantage translates into Iowa employment – the state’s many colleges and University towns in addition to the non-profit American College Testing Corporation in Iowa City, Iowa, which produces the other major test used by college-bound students.
Iowa’s clean air and water bring residents to the out-of-doors. Its Central Midwestern location guarantee mild summers and winters – hunting, fishing as well as skiing and skating are all popular in the state. Iowa has built over 1,400 miles (875 km) of trails for hiking and biking in their 70 state parks.
Despite Iowa’s many advantages, housing costs are the 8th lowest in the nation (2007 U.S. Census). The largest sector of Iowa employment is government. But the blend of income, sales and excise taxes puts the state near the middle of the country in terms of overall tax burden.
Iowa Employment
Diversity of opportunity, smart residents, a solid infrastructure and a statewide commitment to supporting economic development makes Iowa the success it is today. The state has made itself attractive to businesses by proving itself ready for the 21st century: lowering energy cost with wind energy; constructing an aggressive state-wide Wi-Fi project, and continually producing a top quality workforce. The quality of life in Iowa has long been recognized by its own citizens, who choose to stay in their home state in greater numbers than most of the country. Growing opportunities in Iowa employment invite hardworking people to their state to share these benefits.
