Survey: Iowa Employers Growing More Optimistic About State's Economy

(Iowa) -- A new survey for the second quarter of the year shows growing optimism among Iowa businesses.

Iowa Association of Business and Industry's 2026 Quarterly Business Survey shows more Iowa businesses are becoming optimistic about the state's economy. Positive signs from Iowa employers include:

• 62% say they expect sales to increase in the next quarter
• 57% say they plan to expand their workforce, up from 37% in the first quarter
• 71% say they plan to make capital expenditures
• 48% say they have an optimistic outlook about the economy, up from 37% in the first quarter

Despite growing overall optimism, employers across Iowa still face certain challenges. Nicole Crain, president of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry says:

"Workforce challenges remain the top concern. What we're seeing also is concerns about healthcare costs, and then there's still those supply chain pressures out there, and then some energy costs from our members that are large industrial users."

Crain says the trends in Iowa mirror current trends nationwide. More information about the 2026 Q2 survey is available on the Iowa Association of Business and Industry's website.