Laborshed studies are supply-side, labor availability studies. They provide community leaders, economic developers, site selectors and existing or prospective employers a flexible tool for understanding the workforce characteristics of their local labor market.
A Laborshed is defined as the area or region from which an employment center draws its commuting workers. It shows the distribution of these workers regardless of political boundaries. Laborshed studies also address underemployment, availability of labor and likeliness of the employed or not employed to change or accept employment. Other topics covered within a Laborshed analysis include: current and desired occupations, wages, hours worked, job search resources and distance willing to commute to work. For more information regarding survey methodology please visit the Laborshed Survey Methodology page.
Laborshed Reports
The following drop-down menus provide links to current Laborshed data by geography. The data is provided in two formats. The first drop-down for each geography type (city or region) links to an interactive presentation-style narrative of the data collected for the area. The second drop-down provides an executive summary, in a PDF file format, for each area.
by City
(Interactive Format)
by City
(Executive Summary)
by Region
(Interactive Format)
by Region
(Executive Summary)
The drop-down menu below provides data for the most recent statewide study and occupational reports. All reports are PDF files.
Statewide analysis
Statewide Occupational Reports
Note: For optimal experience we recommend using the Google Chrome browser (download here). For assistance in navigating the Tableau visualization below, visit the Tableau Guide.
Current Laborshed data can be viewed and explored in the Tableau visualization below. Navigate the various visualizations by using the tabs at the top of the frame. To customize the view, adjust the available filters to select the geography your are interested in as well as the category and/or subgroup.
Laborshed Survey Results
Tableau Key
If you need access to additional Laborshed data or need it presented in a different format feel free to contact the Laborshed team with your request: Laborshed.Studies@iwd.iowa.gov.
