Iowa Chamber Alliance Releases Fourth Iowa Talent Poll Highlighting Strengths, Ongoing Concerns

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Chamber Alliance released the results of its fourth annual Iowa Talent Poll on Wednesday, offering insight into what working-age Iowans value most about living in the state — and the challenges they continue to face.

The poll, conducted by Cygnal and released Jan. 21, gathered responses from more than 1,200 Iowa residents. The annual survey is designed to help policymakers, chambers of commerce and community leaders better understand Iowa’s strengths and weaknesses when it comes to retaining and attracting workers.

According to the results, Iowa continues to rank favorably for quality-of-life factors that appeal to younger and working-age residents. Respondents cited the state’s small-town feel, lower cost of living, friendliness and safety as key reasons Iowa compares well to other places. Safety ranked highest, with 68.5% of respondents viewing Iowa positively in that category, while friendliness followed at 62% and cost of living at 59%.

The poll also showed Iowa maintains a competitive advantage among post-millennials, a demographic considered critical to the state’s future labor force. However, concerns about long-term economic stability and career advancement remain.

While 73.1% of respondents reported feeling secure in their current jobs, nearly half — 47.1% — expressed concern that their standard of living may be lower in the future. Stopping inflation and rising costs of living ranked as top priorities for the state, alongside job creation and addressing property taxes. These concerns have remained consistent since the poll’s inception in 2021.

The survey also highlighted the role of chambers of commerce and small businesses in Iowa’s workforce development. Respondents identified small businesses and local employers as their most trusted institutions and said they believe small businesses make the largest investment in Iowa’s workforce.

Iowa Chamber Alliance Board President John Hall said the findings reinforce Iowa’s appeal, particularly for young families and working adults.

“This year’s Iowa Talent Poll continues to show a strong base for Iowa to market to working adults, especially young families,” Hall said in a statement. “We hope policymakers continue to make investments to further grow the state, as our chambers also work with communities toward that same goal.”

The Iowa Talent Poll is designed to be iterative, allowing trends to be tracked over time and used to inform policy and economic development decisions.

More information about the poll and the Iowa Chamber Alliance is available at iowachamberalliance.com.