Several speakers said making Iowa more hospitable to minorities and immigrants could be critical to both making the state a more attractive place to live and addressing the current labor shortage. Economic issues seemed to dominate the show. Many Iowans said developing high-wage jobs is key to making Iowa the kind of place where young people would want to stay. Harl said problem goes beyond even that. He said the companies with the best wages often look not only for skilled workers but also for attractive communities where it will be easy to attract and retain employees.
Callers have two minutes to present their thoughts.
The committee hopes to produce a plan for the governor next spring.