Fort Dodge offers lower labor costs, and its skilled, educated workforce is steeped in strong, Midwest work ethic manufacturers seek. Manufacturing constitutes the largest segment of the region’s workforce, and continuing to train tomorrow’s workers has always been a priority. Of course, for Iowa businesses, an educated workforce means a more motivated employee, lower start-up costs, lower training costs, fewer job-related accidents, shorter training periods, and an excellence — a pride — in quality and productivity.

• Iowa is a right-to-work state
• Employment relationships are “at-will”
  • An employer may terminate an employment relationship at any time, with or without cause
• In the advanced manufacturing sector, Iowan’s tend to stay in one job, on average, at least 15+ years.
•  Iowa has the second lowest turnover rate in the nation

Laborshed analysis measures the availability and characteristics of workers within the Fort Dodge employment region. The total potential labor force in Fort Dodge and the surrounding area nearly 100,000. The analysis also measures the distance workers are willing to commute for employment in the Fort Dodge area. Overall, workers in Webster County and the surrounding area are willing to commute 29 miles one-way for the right opportunity.