Iowa’s economy saw a slight increase in its rate of growth during the past month and the numbers look very positive for continued growth, according to the latest survey from Creighton University. Creighton economist Ernie Goss predicts the state’s economic numbers will remain strong for the summer.
Goss says Iowa should see good growth in the months ahead, thanks in large part to the biofuels industry, though he predicts a drop-off toward the end of the year due to higher oil prices, “which will eventually begin to slow the Iowa economy.” He says with the heat of summer, also comes a warm-up in employment prospects.
Goss says Iowa’s seeing very good job growth for the summer — including part-time, temporary and full-time positions, with the best growth in non-urban, rural areas. Last month, Internet search engine giant Google announced it would locate a 600-million dollar server farm in Council Bluffs which Goss expects will bring still more growth in the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro area.
Goss says that will spill over into other industries. While Google is adding 200 jobs, perhaps another 250 jobs will be added in related fields, with salaries well above state averages. Creighton surveys business leaders and supply managers across Iowa and in eight other Midwest states every month.