Des Moines Register
10-30-06
Fun attracts young workers
Downtown D.M. residents expect city, businesses to step up amenities
By DONNELLE ELLER
REGISTER BUSINESS WRITER
Matt Ellsworth considers himself something of a wings connoisseur. He's had to
eat out a lot since moving to downtown Des Moines, where he also works. Wings
are his meal of choice.
"I'd really like it if we could get a grocery store downtown," said the 22-year-old,
who crashed his car shortly after arriving in the capital city and is without wheels
for shopping. "I know it's all coming, but it'd be great to accelerate everything."
That's more downtown housing, more sporting events, more concerts, more
parks — more of the cultural, recreational and social amenities that economic
development leaders say are key to attracting young workers like Ellsworth and
friends Jon Staron, 23, and David Karsten, 29.
"Places that have lots of these talented workers are better poised for growth,"
said Joseph Cortright, an economist with Impresa Consulting in Portland, Ore.
"That's especially true now because we're on the cusp of a major change in the
U.S. economy.
"Historically, we've had abundant, skilled labor in the United States. But we're
headed for an era when the availability of labor will be a constraint on economic
growth," said Cortright, whose "Young and Restless" studies focus on young,
college-educated and highly mobile workers.
Iowa leaders are already sounding alarms about worker supply, faced with
thousands of retiring baby boomers and slow population growth. One group
projects a worker shortage of 150,000 by 2012. Des Moines is expected to be
about 60,000 workers short in the next half-dozen years.
It's not just Des Moines, Iowa or the United States. An international poll of human
resource managers indicated that 62 percent are worried about a company-wide
talent shortage, The Economist reported this month. Seventy-five percent said
worker retention and attraction were their top priorities.
Community projects
Many U.S. cities and states have focused on making improvements to their
communities to attract workers, especially young, educated workers.
Des Moines has poured $338 million into projects like Wells Fargo Arena, the
Science Center of Iowa and the downtown library. It was one of 13 communities
to snag a piece of $225 million through Vision Iowa, a statewide program
designed to spark development of community attractions. It pulled $2 billion in
private investment into the projects.
Libby Jacobs, a Principal Financial Group executive and state lawmaker, said
recruitment is one reason Principal is leading development of a $63 million
riverwalk downtown. The company donated $10 million to the project.
Libby said "life after 5" makes a difference to workers thinking about Des Moines.
"It's that buzz that really helps set us apart in attracting and retaining a highperforming work force," said Jacobs.
Michael Blouin, the state's top economic development leader, said he hears
about quality of life daily in talks with growing companies. "Three things are
critical: education - from early childhood to lifelong learning - business incentives
that foster new ideas, and communities that are fun to live in and are open and
inclusive.
"All three are important - not just one or the other," he said.
Kori Heuss could be considered one of Iowa's recruitment success stories.
She lived in New York and Los Angeles before deciding to move back to Iowa first in Des Moines, then in her hometown of Ames.
The 32-year-old said she moved home to Ames because of a great job
opportunity. She decided to stay because of the town.
"They're small things, but they end up being pretty big," she said. For Heuss,
"quality of life" means having a group of friends who expect her to run with them
three times each week, rain or snow. It means having local executives reach out
to mentor her. It means knowing her neighbors and having family members
nearby.
"I have a job I love. It's a large part of my life," said Heuss, who worked in
economic development for the Ames chamber and is going into her father's
business, Heuss Printing. "You have to have things that make your happy."
Sports, diversity
Heuss also likes that Ames, home to Iowa State University and 25,000
students, attracts national concerts, has collegiate sports and a diversity of
cultures - from residents to restaurants.
"We have really nice bike trails and paths, but I dream of the day when the entire
state is connected," said Heuss, who is one of the founders of Young
Professionals of Ames.
In downtown Des Moines, Ellsworth, Staron and Karstens had the new $30.5
million Western Gateway Park to themselves one evening last week to practice
Ultimate Frisbee. The men travel for competitions. Their next trip is to Australia.
The friends - Ellsworth, a salesman for LightEdge, a Des Moines tech company;
Staron, an actuarial analyst at Principal Financial Group; and Karstens, a
sprinkler fitter at Black Hawk Fire Sprinkler - like the changes they see in Des
Moines.
"I think Des Moines is on the right path. It just needs to keep on it," said
Karstens.
Ellsworth said more of his friends are interested in Des Moines because of job
opportunities.
"Once you have a degree, you have to have a job," he said.
Heuss agrees that jobs are important: "You have to have a broad base of jobs. ...
But if workers don't feel like they're part of the community, then you won't keep
them."