Iowa Colleges Attract Young People But Cannot Retain Grads
Generation Iowa
A report last week out of Generation Iowa suggests that Iowa's great brain drain is not a thing of the past.The state of Iowa is faced with a difficult mismatch of current workforce needs and the jobs the Next Generation of workforce seeks. The research completed in 2008 by the Generation Iowa Commission and Iowa Workforce Development has clarified the needs of the state, identified strengths and challenges and worked to create solutions.
Iowa’s Next Generation strengths
Iowa is a “Top 5” importer of college students and ranks #1 in the Midwest for college student attraction.
Iowa remains a popular place with a strong Next Generation brand.
Iowa has an active Young Professionals of Iowa organization.
In 2006, Iowa had a net college student “brain gain” of 8,200 young people.
21 percent of Iowans have college degrees, and an estimated 33 percent of the next generation workforce is getting at least a bachelor’s degree.
Iowa had a “brain drain” of 19,500 college-educated people for 1995-2000.
12 percent of currently available jobs in Iowa are for college graduates.
Iowa’s brain drain is 4th worst in the nation since 2000.
Iowa is one of only six states facing a declining rate of the percent of our population with at least a bachelor’s degree.
Iowa has the 9th lowest average wage out of 10 regional states.
Iowa’s wages are 20 percent lower than the national average.
Cost of living adjustments do not make up the wage gap.
Iowa college students rank 17th nationally at a volunteer rate of 32 percent.
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