Statewide Iowa — More than 180 insurance companies are now headquartered in Iowa — and Iowa Economic Development Authority director Debi Durham says no other state gets a higher percentage of its Gross Domestic Product from the insurance and finance industry.
According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the insurance industry accounts for at least 16 percent of the jobs in metro Des Moines. Durham says manufacturing remains the dominant industry in the entire state of Iowa, however.
Sixty-four percent of Iowa’s exports come from Iowa manufacturing plants and 15 percent of Iowa’s entire workforce is employed by a manufacturer.
According to the Iowa Economic Development Authority, manufacturing jobs in Iowa pay 25 percent more than the average wage for a private sector job.
