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A high percentage of Iowans are working, but that’s not enough, that’s the message from the Iowa Business Council’s annual report released Wednesday.
IBC’s annual Iowa Competitiveness Dashboard examines economic and demographic data each year to measure Iowa’s competitiveness relative to other states and measure its progress. Iowa’s labor force participation rate (a measure of all people holding or looking for work) is 68.1%, ranking it 6th out of 50 states.
At the same time, Iowa’s unemployment rate (3.2% in December, the most recent month reported) has consistently been well below the national average.
“The good news is that Iowa’s labor force participation rate continues to exceed the national average, but when you combine that labor force participation rate with a very low unemployment rate, it’s possible to maintain a larger population and… The urgency to add new jobs continues to grow, and Iowans are coming to our state,” said Phil Jasper, president of Collins Aerospace in Cedar Rapids and IBC chairman.
Jasper said Iowa’s biggest need for improvement is in the demographic and diversity category, noting that Iowa ranks 30th.th In Japan, the population has increased over the past five years, reaching 34th For pure global migration.
“We’re effectively underutilizing our workforce,” Jasper said. “As we have said for years, to grow our businesses and provide opportunities for the next generation of Iowans, we need Iowa’s population to grow. is necessary.”
Jasper said IBC continues to strongly advocate for comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level and works with the state and other organizations on marketing opportunities for Iowa careers.
Latino leaders: Iowa businesses and lawmakers at odds over immigration
But if Iowa’s business community is holding up a “Help Needed” sign for newcomers, the state Legislature may be holding up an even bigger “Not Welcome” sign when it comes to immigrants, Latinos say. said Joe Henry, the alliance’s political director. Council of Des Moines 307;
Although not included in the business groups’ presentation, Henry agrees with them that immigration is needed to meet the state’s job needs, but the Iowa Legislature has taken the opposite direction. He said it seemed like it.
“The business community and Republicans seem to be at odds about what should be done,” he added.
Henry said the bill currently being considered in Congress is particularly problematic for immigrant communities because it would require employers to use the federal government’s E-Verify system to verify the immigration status of job applicants. Yes, and another bill would require college students to show proof of Iowa citizenship. Receive in-state tuition at a state university.
He also said the bill, which would allow illegal drivers to be charged with human trafficking if caught transporting someone under 18, is “extremely dangerous.”
“So it shows that Minnesota is a welcoming state,” he said, contrasting it with neighboring Minnesota, where lack of documentation is no barrier to getting a driver’s license. The same goes for Illinois. ”
“It’s very disappointing and what the state Legislature is doing right now is that Republican leadership is trying to attack immigrants for a political point while at the same time doing great damage to the business community here in Iowa. It’s dangerous,” he said.
IBC President Joe Murphy said IBC has expressed concerns about some of the proposed immigration legislation and that IBC is working with many other industry groups to oppose the E-Verify bill. pointed out.
Murphy said IBC recognizes that immigration is a politically charged issue, but has continued to advocate for policies it believes are good for business and good for Iowa.
“Our role is to tone down the rhetoric, lower the temperature, remove politics as much as possible, talk about why we need more individuals in our communities and businesses, talk about the needs of business, and help make Iowa a better Iowa.” “Deaf,” he said.
“Iowa has a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world, and it’s a legacy we should continue to be proud of,” he said.
Bright spots on the dashboard: Vocational education, tax policy
Education received the highest score on the IBC dashboard, with Jasper predicting a significant increase in work-based learning opportunities in high schools, with 370 school districts offering them by 2023, up from 121 in 2020. It pointed out. He said the program has “potential for significant growth.” Our talent pipeline continues into the future. ”
Jasper said the province has also made significant progress in improving its tax environment in the 14 years that the IBC has published its annual assessments.
“When IBC began publishing this data in 2011, Iowa ranked 46th in corporate tax climate and 41st in personal tax climate. Our rankings have improved dramatically,” he said, noting changes including the move to a flat income tax. “Iowa now ranks 29th in corporate tax climate and 22nd in personal tax climate.”
The report’s lowest ranking was in the health and wellness category, where Iowa ranked 43rd.rd The number of mental health providers per 100,000 people in this country is 12.th Worst in the state when it comes to obesity. The state performs better in health insurance, ranking fifth nationally in the percentage of residents with insurance.
more:According to the report, Iowa has the worst number of psychiatric beds in the nation.How the new plan can help
“IBC has placed a particular focus on mental health policy and resources in recent years and continues to work with a large coalition of stakeholders to increase the number and availability of mental health professionals in the state.” said Jasper.
IBC is comprised of 22 of Iowa’s largest employers with more than 160,000 employees and more than $9.9 billion in payroll.
Murphy said IBC members will spend more than $3.2 billion in capital investment and $2 billion in research and development in 2023, while also contributing more than $300 million in philanthropic contributions and investing more than $44 million in employee training. He said he went.
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