Iowa Workforce Development

2026 April Newsletter Open this design created on Venngage.

Anyone heard any good yolks lately? We have, and that's because it's National Egg Day! 🥚 In 2025, Iowa was the nation's top egg-producing state, producing 1.2 billion eggs. The annual average wage for the industry was more than $63,000, with more than 2,700 jobs in chicken and egg production. Turns out, the industry IS all that it's cracked up to be.

For more of Iowa’s Labor Market Information, please visit https://workforce.iowa.gov/labor-market-information

Breaking into the commercial insurance or risk management industry might seem like a big hurdle. Holmes Murphy, at its Waukee, IA, campus, opened its doors to interns to gain experience under their wing through a Work-based Learning model. Hear how the challenges helped sculpt their experience and how this unique approach has successfully led many students to full-time employment.

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Empowering Interns Through Real‑World, Industry Experience On the Waukee campus of Holmes Murphy, this commitment is reflected in an internship program that has grown into a rousing success for the company.

Mobile Workforce Center: Events Calendar This page serves as a resource to highlight upcoming events for the IowaWORKS Mobile Workforce Center.

It might surprise you that 40% of Iowa high school seniors plan to go directly into the workforce after graduation. Ankeny Community School District, in collaboration with the Greater Des Moines Partnership, recently held its first Senior Hiring Event, with ready to speak directly with grads for job opportunities. Grads seeking full-time positions explored Work-based Learning and many other !

📰 Learn more about the event and what the experience was like by visiting: https://workforce.iowa.gov/blog/2026-05-21/senior-hiring-event-bridges-gap-between-students-and-real-world-opportunities

Senior Hiring Event Bridges the Gap Between Students and Real-World Opportunities Each spring marks a season for change – and in the case of Iowa’s next generation, a time to explore available pathways after high school.

Wishing you a safe weekend. *As a note, our offices will be closed on Monday, May 25, 2026, in observance of the holiday. Normal business hours will resume on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.

Honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Wishing you a safe weekend.

Iowa’s unemployment rate held steady at 3.3% in April 2026. Meanwhile, employers added 3,400 jobs, led by gains in leisure and hospitality, new jobs in , , and .

📰 Read more in the April report: https://workforce.iowa.gov/press-release/2026-05-21/iowas-unemployment-rate-holds-steady-33-percent-april

Join Iowa's Vocational Rehabilitation division with a role as a Rehabilitation Counselor in Waterloo, IA! You'll work with individuals with disabilities to connect them to meaningful employment, partner with businesses to remove workforce barriers, and connect with employers to achieve workforce goals. The annual salary is $55,868.80 - $84,676.80. Applications close on May 21, 2026.

✅ Apply now by visiting: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/iowa/jobs/5280313/rehabilitation-counselor-waterloo

Switching careers? On the hunt for your first? Check out the Career Explorer tool! Select a job, see what it pays in your county. From entry-level to experienced, there are a lot of industries and options to explore!

For more information, including the interactive Career Explorer map tool, please visit: https://workforce.iowa.gov/labor-market-information/career-exploration

The Iowa Workforce Development YouTube channel features topics surrounding Iowa's workforce, including tutorials on how to use the IowaWORKS system when filing for unemployment benefits. An update to a previous video has been made for registering and logging into the IowaWORKS system.

View the updated video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_XPB-YkgbA