Omaha, Nebraska — Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says Iowa’s economy appears to be bouncing back better from the pandemic compared to other parts of the country, but it’s not close to a full recovery.
(as said) “If you look at it, we’re still probably in Iowa five or six percent below pre-COVID level employment numbers,” Goss says. “…It’s real easy to say negatives are getting less negative.”
Goss made his comments Friday during taping of the “Iowa Press” program that aired Friday night on Iowa P-B-S. Goss suggested to moderator David Yepsen that more Iowans are unemployed than the unemployment RATE suggests.
(as said) “I would say it’s undervalued. In other words, there are more unemployed than that one would suggest,” Goss said. Yepsen asked: “So what do you think? How bad is unemployment?” Goss replied: “It’s bad…particularly in leisure and hospitality.”
Goss suggests it’s more likely eight to nine percent of Iowans are unemployed, compared to the August unemployment rate of six percent that state officials announced Friday.
