Iowa's Competitive Dashboard 2024

Iowa's Competitive Dashboard, our annual, nonpartisan review of the state’s economic climate, was released in February 2024. The dashboard measures Iowa’s progress in five categories relative to other states and serves as a tool to policymakers and business leaders in determining policies that will elevate Iowa's economy. Iowa ranked competitive for all five indicators; economic growth, education and workforce, governance, demographics and diversity, and health and wellness. For each category, the IBC provides recommendations on continuing positive momentum and addressing challenges to make the state more competitive.

All the metrics included in the report can be measured consistently across all 50 states, providing an accurate depiction of how Iowa is competing nationally. Each indicator consists of five metrics that are averaged to determine Iowa’s overall performance in that category – competitive, underperforming, or outperforming. These five metrics are then averaged to determine an overall ranking for each indicator. The report also includes recommended actions that IBC members developed to help the state improve in each category.

The dashboard, which has been released since 2011, serves as a guide and a tool to policymakers and both business and community leaders when determining policies and pursuing efforts to make Iowa more competitive. IBC members encourage leaders to join in implementing the report's recommendations or to develop their own action items based on this data.

We encourage business and community leaders to join us in implementing these recommendations or to develop their own action items based on this data.

View the Full Report.