Iowa Business Owners Struggle To Find Qualified Labor

Despite the ongoing pandemic taking place across America, businesses are adding employees.  When they can find them.

In a new jobs report released by the NFIB, 10% of owners are increasing employment in September.   23% of owners plan to create new jobs in the next three months which is up 2 points from August.  However, 36% of all owners reported job openings that they could not fill in the current period, up 3 points.

“Iowa continues to be a great place to open and operate a small business. It’s no wonder that small business owners are continuing to increase their business operations,” said NFIB State Director in Iowa, Matt Everson. “The state is in a strong financial position, with a $305 million surplus, despite significant challenges – like a global pandemic. Iowa small business owners are doing everything they can to keep their customers and employees safe, but they’re not going to stop growing – no matter what challenges they have to overcome.”

Businesses are looking for skilled, and unskilled labor at historically high readings.  With many Americans receiving unemployment benefits, small businesses are having trouble matching workers with available jobs.  30% of owners reported few qualified applicants for their open positions, with 20% reporting no qualified applicants.

One of the biggest numbers is in the construction field.  60% of construction firms reported few or no qualified applicants to fill open positions.

Read the full NFIB report here.