Iowa Economy Brief

Iowa employers announced 656 layoffs in June, the highest monthly total in a year, with manufacturing accounting for most of the job losses, according to Iowa’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filings.

The largest announced reductions came from two very different sectors. The Iowa Department of Management will eliminate 192 information technology positions effective Aug. 3 as part of Gov. Kim Reynolds’ initiative to privatize state IT services. The governor has said affected employees will receive individualized job offers through the new system.

Manufacturing also continued to feel pressure. Whirlpool Corp. announced another round of layoffs at its Middle Amana facility, once home to approximately 3,000 workers but now employing only a fraction of that number. The company has said the workforce reductions are part of a long-term investment strategy to modernize the plant, while union leaders have criticized the company for shifting production to facilities in Mexico.

Two additional manufacturers also announced closures. Plastic Products Co. will close its West Branch operation, and BrandFX will shut down its Swea City facility, with both closures affecting 133 workers.

The financial sector was not immune. Wells Fargo announced another 43 layoffs at its Jordan Creek campus in West Des Moines, bringing its announced Iowa job cuts to 228 since February and more than 1,550 layoffs in the Des Moines area since 2022. The bank has attributed its ongoing workforce reductions to broader changes within the banking industry, including increased use of artificial intelligence.

Our Take

June’s WARN filings highlight that Iowa’s economy is experiencing change on multiple fronts. Not just in manufacturing, but also in state government and financial services.

The manufacturing losses are especially significant because they affect communities where a single employer often plays an outsized role in the local economy. At the same time, continued reductions in banking jobs illustrate how automation and artificial intelligence are reshaping white-collar employment alongside traditional manufacturing.

One month of layoff data does not define Iowa’s economy, but it does underscore the importance of workforce development, retraining opportunities, and attracting new investment to communities facing long-term employment transitions.