Career Exploration Resources

Occupational Information to Aid in Career Exploration and Development

The Career Planners and Job Seekers On-Line Reference Guide can be a starting point for planning a career or finding the right job. The guide provides essential websites and tools aimed at directing individuals' career or job path towards professional fulfillment. Additional on-line resources can be found by using the Career Connection Guide.

Employment and wages by occupation within Iowa can be found on the Iowa Wage Report and OEWS pages. Information regarding estimated openings; growth; skills; and education and training levels by occupation is located on the Occupational Projections home page.

Occupational Outlooks

The following outlook reports relate to those occupations that are considered fast growing; high demand, high salary or "hot"; a science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) vocation; and also jobs that are considered "green" or are related to goods or services that benefit the environment.

For convenience purposes reports are listed by county in the drop-down menus below, however, the content of the reports reflect data by IWD region. Statewide reports are also available. 

Note: All reports are Excel files.

Related Career Exploration Links/Resources:

• Future Ready Iowa: Assists Iowans in career exploration and related education or training.
• Career Coach: Iowa's premier career exploration tool (wage & employment data may differ from that reported by IWD).
• EarnandLearnIowa.gov: Assists job seekers and employers in exploring Registered Apprenticeship opportunities in Iowa.
• Occupational Skills Development Guide: A tool used for mapping a career path by occupation and skills required by cluster. (Excel version)
• IowaWORKS website: Iowa's largest job bank.
• Employer Database: A tool for locating employers in Iowa.
• Home Base Iowa: Assists veterans and transitioning service members find employment.