David Swenson, research scientist, was quoted in a May 6 Des Moines Register story, "Editorial: Iowa doesn't have a labor shortage. It has a people shortage."
“Iowa’s labor supply has declined by twice as much during the pandemic as it did nationally,” said Dave Swenson, an Iowa State University researcher who conducts independent economic analysis and leans left in his personal politics. “It has shrunk and hasn’t recovered. I argue that is going to hamper the state’s economic recovery.”
Swenson also answered questions from Andi Dominic, Des Moines Register, about Iowa’s labor supply and why it is hard for some employers to find help.
And spoke with Tyler Jett, Des Moines Register, about distribution and delivery center expansion by Amazon in Iowa and the effects on local labor supplies and wages.