Come on, this will only take two minutes.

Chapter One: Population

Chapter Two: Workers

On the heels of projections for Iowa's population growthor shrinkagecome employment projections from Iowa Workforce Development (IWD). These are the educated guesses for job growth in the 2022-2032 decade. Important note: This data focuses on the future number of jobs throughout Iowa, not whether Iowa's employers will be able to fill them.


Job growth in all sectors

IWD projects Iowa will gain 113,420 jobs from 2022 to 2032.


Health care-related jobs

Of those 113,420 additional jobs, 23 percent (25,240) will be in health care and health care support. To narrow the view, here's projected growth for three specific professions:

3,600 additional jobs for registered nurses

300 additional physicians

9,700 additional direct care workers (Home Health and Personal Care Aides, Nursing Assistants and Orderlies)

This demand for more employees is over and above Iowa's current job openings in health care. As of September 3, 2024, job postings at IWD alone include 3,666 nurses, 650 physicians and 741 nursing assistants.


Growth is good. We like growth. But here's the dealio:

For 2022 to 2032, projected growth of 113,420 jobs in Iowa.

25,240 (23%) will be in health care.

Iowa will have 21,459 fewer people in its working age population (aged 18 to 64) in 2032, as compared to 2022.


This is, as they say, a bad combo platter.


And here's what "Medicare-for-none" looks like.

We learned on August 7 that the hospital in Primghar, Iowa is closing September 30. Not really a shocker, it being #2 on the list of Iowa rural hospitals ranked by operating losses (#1, Keokuk, is already closed). When the Primghar closing was announced, it was believed that a consolidation of two clinics in Paullina and Sutherland, Iowa would help ease the load.

Late-breaking news: Yeah, maybe not so much. It was announced on September 12 that the newly combined facility will no longer accept Medicare as of September 30. Rural populations tend to be older and lower income, so to O'Brien County's disabled and elderly, I say, "Welcome to the new model of health care access in Iowa."

For those who rely on the hospital in Dyersville, Iowa for services, you might want to make a wellness check. You're next in the lineup.


Where will you be when the music stops?

Jo has a fix for health care's supply chain crisis. If your organization wants to host a thought-provoking and informative program on the demographics of health care and how to prep for the perfect storm, click here for details about Bridges. Then contact Jo at JoKline@msn.com to explore the possibilities.


Click here and visit www.JoKline.net

to learn more about

the Bridges initiative.