Quad Cities Chamber, community partners tackle workforce issue head-on

We hear you loud and clear: Finding skilled employees to fill the open jobs of today – and tomorrow – remains one of your top issues as business leaders and key employers in the Quad Cities region.

Workforce readiness was one of our top priorities this past year in Des Moines and Springfield. In addition, as part of the Chamber’s Business Connections program in 2019, we met with about 150 employers in our core industries, and 62% are experiencing recruitment challenges.

It’s a trend we don’t see going away, and that’s why we’ve set ambitious goals, in alignment with the Q2030 Regional Action Plan, to attract more people and boost the economic prosperity of our region. 

Our partners in industry, education and nonprofit sectors also are stepping up with innovative strategies to develop talent pipelines. We know this is important because regions around the country taking a proactive approach to address labor shortages are drawing favorable attention from business site selectors.

If we want to have the talent needed for our businesses – and our entire region – to compete on a global stage, all of us must invest in bold solutions. Only together will we win the race for talent and economic prosperity.

Read more stories about workforce development in the Quad Cities region.