Waterloo Times

The workforce crisis in Iowa has become a main concern for residents, business owners and legislators alike and now that lawmakers are back in session it has been called one of the primary focuses for both sides of the aisle.

Lawmakers said that while controlling the pandemic is the main priority, the workforce crisis across the state is a result of this, according to KCCI. One way legislators say they will tend to this is by recruiting out-of-state workers and also push for current residents to work. They will also work to make child care accessible and affordable. 

“Our session should be laser focused on the Reynolds' workforce crisis,” Iowa state Sen. Zach Wahls said in the 2022 legislative session, KSCJ reported. “All of us see and are overwhelmed by the help wanted signs that we see in our district. The reduced hours, limited service and even shuttered businesses.”

Iowa Workforce Development launched a new program called Reemployment Case Management, where starting this week, job search assistance was offered to newly unemployed residents of Iowa. A Dec. 13 release by Iowa Workforce Development explained that the program has been tailored to the state’s unemployment process based on national models. It said that the intention is to provide services so claimants can find the best path back to work and minimizing the time receiving unemployment checks.

“Like other states across the country, Iowa is experiencing a significant workforce shortage,” Gov. Kim Reynolds said in the release. “We are taking a holistic approach in revitalizing our reemployment process to ensure that Iowans have the access they need to match them with the successful career paths and opportunities that await them across our state.”

Iowa has a current unemployment rate of 3.7%, compared to the national rate of 3.9%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.