Blog Posts
Two New Faces Find a Home Behind IWD Podcast Microphones
March 14, 2023
The voices may be different, but the mission for IWD’s Mission: Employable podcast remains the same – educating Iowans about all the valuable resources and innovative ideas out there for connecting employers with skilled Iowa workers. “We’re definitely having fun with it,” said Kathy Leggett, who joined Ben Oldach as co-host of the... Read More
IWD Reorganizes to Emphasize New Office of Veterans Workforce Services
March 13, 2023
Iowa Workforce Development expects to streamline and improve coordination of job services for veterans after the creation of a new office that is bringing most veteran-related programs under the same leadership. IWD’s new Office of Veteran Workforce Services will be led by Jamie Norton, who previously oversaw veteran-related programs at... Read More
Financial Literacy Seminars - A New Tool for IowaWORKS Customers
March 13, 2023
Like most Iowa adults, Sonya Sellmeyer grew up during a time when you just didn’t talk about certain topics in the classroom – like, for example, your checkbook. “I don’t know about you, but I know I didn’t learn anything about financial literacy in school,” said Sellmeyer, consumer advocacy officer for the Iowa Insurance Division. “But we can... Read More
When the Weather Outside is Frightful...Find an Online Appointment with IowaWORKS
February 2, 2023
Jack Frost need not stand in the way of your job search. As winter deepens and the roads sometimes turn tricky, Iowa Workforce Development wants to remind you that you need not be on the physical site of an IowaWORKS job center to take full advantage of all the services that IowaWORKS offers. All IowaWORKS centers have online appointments... Read More
Registered Apprenticeships Continue to Show Their Worth
November 15, 2022
Iowa Workforce Development has spent the last few weeks meeting with Iowa employers as part of an outreach blitz tied to the launch of our new Business Engagement Division. We’re contacting hundreds of Iowa companies both to ask one-on-one questions about the workforce challenges they’re facing and, more importantly, to connect them directly with... Read More
Iowa Opening the Door to New Future for Apprentice Teachers
November 15, 2022
Teresa Torres always wanted to be a teacher, but she wasn’t sure how she would get there. “Having two kids and trying to work, trying to provide for them while getting my own education, that wouldn’t have been possible for me,” Torres said. But then she learned of the new Teacher / Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeships being offered at... Read More
Iowa Language Learners: Grants to Improve Workplace Communication
October 19, 2022
HNI Corporation in Muscatine noticed several years ago that the company and its community had an untapped pipeline of workforce talent – English language learners. “We realized that we need to make our internal and external hiring practices better to recruit and retain candidates who do not speak English as their native language," said Mandy... Read More
Iowans Increasingly See Value in Registered Apprenticeships
October 18, 2022
Iowans are endorsing a longstanding earn-as-you-learn job training method in record numbers, making this state a national leader in building new registered apprenticeships. Federal officials are expected to soon report record growth in the number of new apprenticeship programs – part of what Iowa leaders describe as a growing recognition in our... Read More
IWD Celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month
October 19, 2022
October is National Disability Employment Awareness month, and Iowa Workforce Development is joining the rest of the nation in celebrating the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. Throughout October, IowaWORKS offices around the state will be hosting a variety of presentations and job events where Iowans can... Read More
IWD's New Business Engagement Division: Proactive Help to Find and Connect the Pieces of Your Workforce Puzzle
September 16, 2022
If you’re an employer facing workforce challenges, Iowa Workforce Development wants to hear about it. That's why we’re hitting the road to speak with as many of you as possible. Earlier this week, IWD officially launched its new Business Engagement Division, reorganizing employees around the state to create a more efficient team for assessing... Read More