The Iowa Business Council’s overall index in the first quarter rose to 65.5 from 64.8 at the end of last year. 

Anything above 50 is considered positive. Read the full results here. 

The council represents the chief decision-makers at 23 major Iowa employers whose staffs include 1 in 6 Iowa jobs.

“This survey aligns with our 2019 Competitive Dashboard data, which measures Iowa’s progress in five categories relative to other states; the lack of available and qualified workforce is threaded throughout every category,” IBC Executive Director Georgia Van Gundy said. “As an answer to this challenge, the Iowa Business Council has brought together leaders from both the public and private sectors to identify potential initiatives to attract and retain people to our state.”

IBC plans its latest “Vision to Vitality” forum from 4 to 5:30 p.m. April 2 at Iowa Valley Continuing Education in Marshalltown. Meetings this year will focus on how to increase and diversify the Iowa population, IBC reported.

IBC members include Alliant Energy, Casey’s General Stores Inc., Collins Aerospace, Corteva Agriscience, Deere & Co., Fareway, FBL Financial Group Inc., HNI Corp., Hy-Vee Inc., Iowa Bankers Association, Kent Corp., Mercy Health Network, Meredith Corp., MidAmerican Energy Co., Pella Corp., Principal, Ruan Transportation Management Systems, the Weitz Co., University of Iowa Health Care, UnityPoint Health, Vermeer Corp., Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa, and Wells Enterprises Inc.