Ragan Report

owa needs more skilled workers to expand middle class
 
     Iowa has a shortage of skilled workers. Employers say it’s the primary obstacle to growing our economy. A new report from the Iowa Student Aid Commission highlights the need for training and education after high school.
     The Condition of Higher Education in Iowa 2014 reports that 36 percent of working-age Iowans hold an associate’s degree or higher, but 62 percent of all the jobs in the state will require postsecondary education by 2018. In fact, seven out of the 10 fastest growing occupations in Iowa require some education or training beyond high school.
     Skilled workers are in demand because they are more productive, more adaptable, and more able to meet the changing demands of the modern economy. The good news is that our community colleges are stepping in to provide the education and training Iowa workers can use to fill job openings. Iowa’s community colleges offer programs that meet state and regional economic needs. 
     Many Iowans have taken advantage of worker training programs at our community colleges. Iowa’s workforce today represents nearly 25 million credit hours and more than 138 million contact hours related to past and present community college training. 
     Those who make the commitment to improve their skills see a payoff. Community college students completing their degree have a 24 percent rate of return on their education investment in the first 10 years after completion. They make on average 18.4 percent more 10 years after completing their program than high school graduates. 
     Spending by Iowa community colleges and their students contributes to the creation of 18,000 jobs across the state and $684 million annually in income. Nearly 84 percent of Iowa’s community college students remain in Iowa after graduation, building a stronger workforce and growing our economy.
• Additional information
     This is a legislative column by Sen. Amanda Ragan, representing Franklin, Butler and Cerro Gordo counties. For newsletters, photos and further information, go to www.senate.iowa.gov/senator/ragan.
     To contact Sen. Ragan during the week, call the Senate Switchboard at 515-281-3371. Otherwise she can be reached at home at 641-424-0874. Email her at amanda.ragan@legis.iowa.gov.
     Sen. Ragan is an Assistant Senate Majority Leader, chair of the Health & Human Services Budget Subcommittee, vice-chair of the Agriculture Committee and vice-chair of the Human Resources Committee. She also serves on the Appropriations, Natural Resources & Environment, Rules & Administration and Veterans Affairs committees.