Iowa faces a major worker shortfall for the next few years

DES MOINES (AP) -- Iowa will face a labor shortfall of about 150,000 workers over the next several years, according to a state report released Monday.

Iowa Workforce Develop-ment conducted a survey of nearly 8,600 companies, which indicated about 49,000 jobs are or will be open in the next year. Of those seeking employment, some are considered unemployable or their skills do not match vacancies.

In addition, a large number of people retiring will contribute to the shortfall. Nearly 153,000 Iowans will be able to retire this year, with an average of 74,000 more workers eligible to retire every year through 2014.

"The problem is here now, and it's going to become more acute with growing retirements," said Michael Ralston, president of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry. "If companies want to expand but can't find the workers, the Iowa economy won't grow as strong or as swiftly as it can."

The report also found the largest percentage of retirees will be from classroom, factory, hospital and medical jobs.

At the same time, the report claims demand for education and training needs will rise. Based on the type of jobs expected to open over the next six years, workers will need at least a high school degree, and the percentage of people requiring technical training is expected to double.

"There's just going to be a lot of change in the education that people pursue," said Kerry Koonce, a spokeswoman for Iowa Workforce Development.

Koonce said areas such as wind energy, biosciences and health care will pay well and offer growth opportunities, but many require a two-year technical degree. That means training can help bridge the divide between job openings and the unemployed.

"We need to get them quickly trained into the skill sets we need," she said.

Alesa Pierce, 32, got training as a welder after she was laid off from Maytag.

"My husband got laid off from Maytag a year before I did. We had big incomes but we also had a big mortgage," she said.

She said she turned to welding because of its lucrative pay and employment outlook. Now she works at McAninch Construction in Des Moines, with similar wages as she got at Maytag.