Iowa Economy Improves as Midwest Employment Rises

A Creighton University survey shows Iowa and Midwest economic conditions strengthening in October despite some manufacturing job losses.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Employment

Screen-print poster illustration of rolled steel coils beside a tall grain elevator on a flat prairie under a warm, open sky. — Iowa's economic index rose to nearly 57 in October from just over 54 in September, a Creighton University survey of supply managers found. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you think Iowa's economy is getting better or worse for your household?

Iowa's economic index rose to nearly 57 in October from just over 54 in September, according to a Creighton University survey of supply managers. The Midwest has recorded five straight months of a rising employment index.

Why it matters

Gains in the survey point to a stronger regional economy for Iowans, even as four surveyed states lost manufacturing jobs over the past year. The survey's results suggest broader resilience across the Midwest economy.

The Creighton survey scored Iowa at nearly 57 in October, up from just over 54 in September, against a growth-neutral threshold of 50. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows Iowa's manufacturing economy shed 700 jobs over the past 12 months, and the source does not indicate whether that trend will reverse.

The players

Creighton University

A private Jesuit university in Omaha, Nebraska, whose regional survey of supply managers tracks economic conditions across the Midwest.

The details

Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and South Dakota lost manufacturing jobs over the past 12 months, but the other five surveyed states more than offset those losses. Companies are holding back on hiring while they assess how artificial intelligence will affect their operations.

September 2026: Iowa's survey score was just over 54.
October 2026: Iowa's survey score rose to nearly 57.
Third quarter 2026: National GDP grew 3.4 percent.
Upcoming holiday season: Retail sales are expected to be boosted.

Macro View

The October reading extends a five-month streak of rising employment index scores in the Creighton Midwest Economy Survey, a series that tracks supply manager sentiment across nine states. The survey's growth-neutral threshold of 50 provides a benchmark for judging whether regional conditions are expanding or contracting.

For Iowa households, the regional employment gains may support local job availability, though the 700 manufacturing jobs lost over the past year reflect uneven conditions across sectors. Gasoline at $4 a gallon, nearly $1.25 higher than a year ago, continues to shape monthly household budgets.

The takeaway

Iowans should watch the monthly Creighton survey as an early signal of regional hiring trends, since sustained readings above the growth-neutral level of 50 would indicate broader expansion. Tracking local manufacturing employment alongside these headline figures gives a fuller picture of where jobs are growing.