A    S I T E    S E L E C T I O N    S P E C I A L    F E A T U R E    F R O M    S E P T E M B E R    2 0 0 0

---

What Labor Shortage?

Thanks to Iowa's top-notch educational system and effective job-training programs, the skill level of job applicants across the state continues to rise. Indeed, the quality and quantity of applicants in Iowa dispel the primary concerns of employers nationwide about work-force availability.

For instance, Human Resources Manager Mauricio Castanada says his company, The Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, "has stacks of applicants awaiting the next hiring increase. We usually keep about 500 applications on file from people who recognize the reputation of one of eastern Iowa's leading media companies."

When Hunt-Wesson announced it would add 60 jobs at its Waterloo plant, 650 people came to learn more about the opportunity (see sidebar article).

Minnesota-based Rupp Industries, which makes heating, ventilating and cooling equipment, recently increased its manufacturing capacity by nearly 40 percent because of the productivity of its new West Union, Iowa, plant. Says Plant Manager Dave Arndt: "I cannot say enough good things about the labor force we've found in Iowa. Shortage of labor in the Twin Cities area, coupled with the available work force in the West Union area, caused us to start this second production plant. I'd estimate that 80 percent of the Iowa employees who started with us last year are still on the job. They take a lot of pride in their work, and they are very good employees."

According to figures from Rupp headquarters, the company received 10 applications for every available position at the West Union plant.

Meanwhile, on Iowa's western border, Bunge Corp. recently posted 100 positions paying US$10 to $12 per hour at its new $100 million soybean processing facility and refinery. The company received nearly 1,000 applications for the jobs.