Posted on 06/02/2018 10:46:37 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
DES MOINES, Iowa — The United States’ unemployment rate dropped to 3.8 percent, according to the May jobs report that was released on Friday.
Iowa’s unemployment rate is even lower than the national average.
“So the numbers we were seeing in April were around 2.8 percent, which is almost a historical low for Iowa. So that just means we are all having to be more creative. We are having to look at maybe individuals with barriers that we can serve whether it be veterans, those with criminal backgrounds, disabilities. We want to help all of those that are willing and able to work,” Iowa Workforce Development Business Marketing Specialist Rachel Falahpour said.
The Iowa Restaurant Associations said those in the restaurant business are experiencing a shortage of workers.
“Everybody is looking for workforce right now. We have to, as the restaurant industry, find interesting ways to be competitive. We have to have interesting ways to compensate our employees. We need to provide flexibility. We need to look at ways to give people benefits,” Iowa Restaurant Association President Jessica Dunker said.
Dunker said one of the ways they are being competitive is through wages.
“Iowa’s minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. It’s difficult to find anyone who will work for that, nor do you find many employers expecting people to work for that. We are seeing for folks who are having their very first job at 16 years old able to start at $10 even $12 an hour in a quick service restaurant,” Dunker said.
Dunker said regardless of what the unemployment rate is restaurants will always be looking for workers because the industry continues to grow.
“We have a net growth every year of a thousand new jobs. And we are expecting to do that every year for the next ten. So in the next ten years, we need another ten thousand restaurant employees. So ‘we’re hiring’ signs are going to be out almost regardless of what unemployment is,” Dunker said.
Iowa Workforce Development plans to release Iowa’s May jobs report sometime this month.
“individuals with barriers that we can serve whether it be veterans, those with criminal backgrounds, disabilities.”
I think that’s the first time I’ve seen someone admit that being a veteran is often a barrier to employment.
I worked in that department in that state for 15 years. That’s how a lot of them think.
I have an idea....pay more!
It is nice to see their culture changing.
How about white males over 40?
““So the numbers we were seeing in April were around 2.8 percent, which is almost a historical low for Iowa. So that just means we are all having to be more creative. We are having to look at maybe individuals with barriers that we can serve whether it be veterans, those with criminal backgrounds, disabilities. We want to help all of those that are willing and able to work,” Iowa Workforce Development Business Marketing Specialist Rachel Falahpour said.”
Rachel is kinda hung up on the word ‘so.’ Meaningless in her statement.
She coulda gone Full Beowulf and used Lo!, instead.
:)
That statement jumped out at me as well.
The worker participation rate will rise.
Why do you think that they have to have veterans' preference hiring laws for so many government jobs?
Nice...another win
This would be a good time to make welfare less attractive, so as to encourage more kids of welfare families to at least try to enter the work force.
That is a bridge too far.
I think that’s the first time I’ve seen someone admit that being a veteran is often a barrier to employment.
And to compare us with people who have criminal backgrounds? I’ve never even thought about that. Who are these people who think that way?
Lefties. Duh. That’s part of their programming. They spit on returning veterans, remember?
ULefties. Duh. That’s part of their programming. They spit on returning veterans, remember?
I don’t think I’m particularly naive but, damn, I’m still amazed that someone could write that.
I remember picking strawberries on neighbor’s farm in early morning under a hot sun for 10 cents a basket.
Trucking companies state that they re currently 8,000 drivers short of capacity. It will only get worse in future years.
Not all of our brave soldiers came back intact. A lot are battling permanent damage, either physical or psychological. I don’t think the speaker meant their veteran status was a disability or barrier.
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