Insurance, Business Leaders Hold Forum on Keeping Workers in Iowa

Business leaders expressed continued concern this week that Iowa lacks enough workers to maintain a growing business climate.

Business managers, insurance executives, and economic development directors discussed the issue at a forum, with many blaming the state for not keeping its young college graduates in the state, according to a recent Associated Press account.

Iowa lost 16,902 residents ages 22 to 29 with a bachelor’s degree between 1995-2000, according to Census figures.

“We have an abysmal growth rate at less than 1 percent if you believe census figures,” said Max Phillips, chairman of the Iowa Business Council. “That’s lower than any other contiguous state and that means from a business standpoint, no workers.”

The IBC and the Iowa Chamber Alliance formed the Iowa Coalition for Innovation & Growth in 2001 to address issues to help Iowa compete in a global environment. The group met Monday to discuss successes and challenges that remain.

Phillips said Rockwell Collins, a leading producer of airplane cockpit avionics and navigation systems, complain there are not enough engineers in the state. Executives at Principal Financial Group, the insurance and investment business in Des Moines, say they also don’t have enough highly educated workers, Phillips said.

“Every business out there has that same story and it’s the number one issue we as Iowans face,” Phillips said.

Chuck Offenburger, a board member of Iowans For A Better Future, is working on a plan to help Iowa’s 48 colleges and universities lure and keep workers in the state.

“Higher education is a magnet that brings young people to Iowa,” he said. “If we give them a good education, show them a good enough time while they’re here, we’ll get our fair share of those who want to do their careers here.”

The group plans to launch the Iowa Higher Education Initiative with a conference Sept. 26 in Des Moines. It will attract all 48 college and university presidents, 300 college students and business leaders.

“If we put a whole new effort in marketing Iowa as a preferred destination for higher education, it will be a statement that we’re thinking young, thinking fun and thinking progressive and people will want to be a part of it,” he said.