Report offers solutions to worker gap

A report highlighting issues and possible solutions from Gov. Chet Culver’s workforce summit in December was released today.

About 400 participants met to identify ways to address what the state expects will be a 150,000 worker shortage over the next four years as baby boomers retire and businesses grow. The state said legislative initiatives — from a statewide skills assessment program to better connecting former convicts to jobs — were already being pursued as a result of the summit. Among the findings:


Increase workforce diversity.

Issues: Fear of immigration, lack of affordable housing and transportation, applicants who see Iowa as unwelcoming.

Possible solutions: Campaign for a new image in Iowa that calls for diversity; promote state’s quality of life that minorities would value; multiculturalism classes for kindergarten through 12th grades and college; foster diversity ambassadors to recruit other minorities; and repeal English-only law.

Improve skills and training for existing workforce.
Issues: State lacks access to training for high demand and technical jobs; workers face challenging financial concerns; state lacks enough training money and post-employment support.

Possible solutions: Promote public-private partnerships for training; develop work readiness classes in high school, college and for adult workers; statewide tuition assistance and loan forgiveness; promote job training such as apprenticeships, internships, mentoring and job shadowing.

Retain Iowa high school and college students.
Issues: Informing students about Iowa careers, opportunities; generational expectations for work; salary, wages and benefits in Iowa lower than some other states; and lack of business involvement.

Possible solutions: Statewide career learning networks; eliminate state agency duplication in career assistance; provide affordable education; provide “career laddersâ€