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Greater des moines workforce

DSM’s workforce is some of the best in the country. In addition to having a labor force participation rate of 71% in the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), 88.5% of the participating labor force in DSM are between the ages of 25 and 64 (JobsEQ, 2025). The median age according the U.S. Census Bureau is 36.9 in the MSA.

DSM's workforce is highly educated and productive. 93.4% of the population over the age of 25 in the laborshed area have a high school education or beyond, with 52% having an Associate’s degree or higher and over 41% holding a Bachelor’s degree or higher in the MSA (JobsEQ, 2025).

DSM’s 12-county population is 885,796 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024) and has grown an average of 1.3% each year over the last decade. The laborshed labor force as of 2023 was 747,976 according to Iowa Workforce Development.

Why People Choose to Live in DSM

People in Greater Des Moines (DSM) have many opportunities to grow professionally, advance into new roles, build their networks and make a difference in the community. DSM encompasses urban, suburban and rural communities, which provides a variety of lifestyle and housing options.

Affordability puts homeownership within reach for the DSM workforce, with DSM ranked as the #1 Metro for Gen Z Homebuyers (Cotality, 2025) and as the #8 Most Affordable U.S. Metro Area (Clever Real Estate, 2024). The median price of a home in the Des Moines MSA is $102,300 less expensive than the median price of a home in the U.S. overall (National Association of Realtors, Q1 2025). For additional cost of living comparisons between the DSM metro and other participating urban areas in the United States, view our Cost of Living Index Calculator.

DSM’s workforce reaps the benefits of the region’s evolving interstate projects and a 21-minute daily commute time. The region is safe and family-friendly, being ranked the #1 Best Place to Live in Iowa for Young Adults (SoFi, 2025), the #2 Best Mid-Sized Metro for Working Moms (CoworkingCafe, 2025) and the #3 Most Livable Metro (RentCafe, 2024).

Workforce Training, Tax Credits and Support

Iowa Industrial New Jobs Training (260E)

The Iowa Industrial New Jobs Training (260E) provides job training assistance to businesses creating new positions. If a company is expanding operations, or locating a new facility in the state, the program can provide flexible funding to meet the wide variety of training and employee development needs for its new employees. Examples of fund use include screening and assessment, travel for training purposes, in-plant instruction, costs of training facilities and equipment and supplies. The program is paid for by the new employees' withholding taxes at no cost to the employee or the company. These taxes may be diverted for a 10-year period to pay for upfront training costs.

Iowa Jobs Training Program (260F)

The Iowa Jobs Training Program (260F) provides job training services to current employees of eligible businesses. Eligible businesses work with the local community college, which will assess training needs, determine funds available and provide training.

New Jobs Tax Credit

The Iowa New Jobs Tax Credit is available to a company that entered into a New Jobs Training Agreement (260E) and expands its Iowa employment base by 10% or more. The amount of this one-time tax credit depends upon the wages a company pays and the year in which the tax credit is first claimed.

Partnership Programming and Data Resources

The Greater Des Moines Partnership supports both the workforce and employers through programming like The Legacy Project: Career Ready Collective and DSM Intern Connection. Additionally, The Partnership can provide regional labor market data and analytics, including insights on workforce availability, wage rates, education, skill levels by occupation, industry demographics and job posting trends.

To learn more about what DSM offers talent, visit the Do Something Greater website, an initiative by The Partnership to attract and retain talent.