Everybody is feeling the effects of the ongoing war for talent. With unemployment in Greater Des Moines barely above 2%, competition for top talent is overheating across all skill levels of jobs, organizations are searching for new sources of employees, companies and cities are voluntarily increasing minimum wages, and salaries are on the rise. Panelists at the Business Record’s Power Breakfast “Talent War II” each share one trend to watch in the employment market.

Panelists included:

• Beth Townsend – Director, Iowa Workforce Development
• Matt McDonald – Director of Talent Acquisition, Workiva
• David Leto – President, Palmer Group
• Tom Mahoney – Chairman & CEO, ITA Group
• Mary Bontrager – Executive VP of Talent Development, Greater Des Moines Partnership
• Julia Garlick – Assistant professor of economics, University of Iowa