March Summary
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For quarter one of 2015, Iowa's number of online job openings rose by 6.5 percent.
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Iowa's WFI ranked 8th best in the nation, which as a significant improvement from the state's 14th best for February.
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Iowa's job market, based on online openings, remains healthy.
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In absolute numbers, the greatest numbers of online job openings were in management followed by sales, and next healthcare positions.
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As a percent of employment, the largest numbers of online openings were in finance, engineering, and then automobile sales and services positions.
Iowa WFI: AIM's March Work Force Index (WFI) climbed to a healthy 72.2 from 65.3 in February. The WFI is a statistically based measurement tool produced by AIM, a nonprofit organization in Des Moines, Iowa. The Index is a ratio of unique online job postings and the number of unemployed in Iowa (not seasonally adjusted). The Index ranges between 0 and 100. A WFI below 50.0 indicates short-term job contraction while an Index above 50.0 indicates job expansion. At 72.2, Iowa's WFI is in a range indicating a very healthy level of online job openings. Iowa's online job openings expanded by a healthy 6.5 percent for the first quarter of 2015.
Fading and improving areas: The areas showing the greatest percentage improvements in online job openings from February were: 1) construction and extraction occupations, 2) automobile sales and servicing positions and 3) finance jobs. The areas recording the largest percentage declines from February were: 1) insurance, 2) general business positions, and 3) engineering.
Online Openings: In March, the largest number of open online positions in absolute numbers were in 1) management, followed by 2) sales, and then 3) healthcare. As a share of employment, the largest numbers of online job openings in descending order were in: 1) finance openings, followed by 2) engineering positions, and then 3) automobile sales and services positions.
State Rankings: In terms of Work Force Indices among the states for March, Nebraska ranked number one with the highest WFI. Nebraska was followed by Kansas at number two, North Dakota at three, Delaware at four, and Vermont at five. The state with the lowest WFI was West Virginia, followed by Maine at 49, and California at 48. Rounding out the bottom five states were Alaska at 47, and Arkansas at 46. Iowa ranked as the 8th best in the nation, which was an improvement from the state's 14th best in the nation for February 2015.
About the AIM WorkForce Index
AIM and the Creighton University College of Business produce the AIM WorkForce Index each month to track the relationship between the WFI and the changes in the U.S. Gross Domestic Product. This comparative analysis measures the relative strength of the Colorado labor market. It can also be compared to Creighton University's monthly survey of bank CEOs in 10 states including Colorado. Creighton's survey has also been pointing to an expansion in the Colorado Rural Mainstreet economy.
This type of information is of value to both the employer and the job applicant as they develop plans and strategies for participation in the local and regional labor market. For more information on the WFI, please visit www.aimforbrilliance.org/wfi.
About AIM
AIM is a not-for-profit community organization that promotes technology to empower people, enhance organizations, and create brilliant communities. AIM's signature services include : Careerlink - the region's leading career development website, Infotec - the Midwest's premier business and IT conference, and Hatchfund - a crowdfunding source for artists. For more information about our services - training, youth programs, research and more - visit www.aimforbrillance.org
