Workforce & Training

Waukee has an available, knowledgeable workforce and employee training resources to help companies grow and maintain their competitive edge.

Laborshed Study

A laborshed is defined as the area or region from which an employment center draws its commuting workers. Laborshed studies show the distribution of the workers irrespective of natural or political boundaries and address underemployment, the availability and willingness of current and prospective employees to change employment within the workforce, current and desired occupations

, wages, hours worked and distance willing to commute to work. Waukee, in collaboration with Iowa Workforce Development and regional economic development partners, completed a study of the Waukee Area laborshed in March of 2008. Highlights from the study include:

The total potential labor force of the laborshed area is approximately 301,777 and from this number an estimated 103,144 are “very likely or somewhat likely to change or accept employment.”
Of the 81,797 employed and willing to change employment, 30.8% are currently working in professional, paraprofessional or technical occupations; followed by 20.5% in clerical/administrative support occupations.
The largest concentration of workers are currently employed in the finance, insurance and real estate industry; followed by education.

Download Waukee Area Laborshed Analysis Executive Summary, March, 2008
Download Greater Des Moines Region Laborshed Analysis Executive Summary, May 2008
(Regional analysis based on aggregate data from laborshed studies conducted for Waukee and 13 other communities in the region.)

For the most recent labor market information and data for the central Iowa region, including Dallas County/Waukee, go to the Iowa Department of Workforce Development's website »

Fringe Benefit Profile

To complement the laborshed study, a Fringe Benefit Study was recently completed of the Greater Des Moines Region, encompassing Dallas (Waukee area), Boone, Polk, Story and Warren counties. Iowa Workforce Development contacted a random sample of the region’s employers across all industrial classifications and employment ranges. Responding businesses provided information on fringe benefit packages offered in the Greater Des Moines Region. The information provides a detailed analysis of employer-provided benefits. Highlights from the regional study include:

82.1% of employers offer a fringe benefit package in addition to wage compensation.
73.7% of employers offer a health/medical insurance plan in their total benefit packages.
41.3% of employers offer retirement/pension plans to full-time employees.

Download the Greater Des Moines Region Fringe Benefit Profile, February, 2009

Employee Training Assistance

The State of Iowa offers an array of business-driven workforce development programs and services, including:

The Iowa New Jobs Training Program (260E) provides no-cost or reduced-cost job training services to new employees of eligible businesses through Iowa's community college system.
The Iowa Jobs Training Program (260F) provides job training services to current employees of eligible businesses that are located in Iowa.

Visit the Iowa Department of Economic Development’s website to learn more about the state’s innovative, flexible employee training programs »

Higher Education and Training Resources

Waukee businesses and employees have access to a wide range of professional development and skills training resources. Follow the links to learn more about each college/university: