A new report has good economic news for the Dubuque area.
Greater Dubuque Development says the new labor force statistics from the Iowa Workforce Development highlight the Dubuque County Metropolitan Statistical Area as the top performer in year-over-year job growth among Iowa’s nine major metros.
From August 2023 to August 2024, the Dubuque County MSA experienced 2-point-2 percent job growth with the addition of 13-hundred jobs. The report also showed total nonfarm employment in the Dubuque County MSA now stands at 61,000, surpassing its pre-pandemic high by 800 jobs.
Greater Dubuque Development says despite the positive job growth, questions remain about labor force participation, which has not recovered as rapidly as overall employment. They say factors such as hybrid and remote work arrangements, an aging workforce, and potential disconnects between job seekers and employment services may contribute to these trends.