Iowa State Profile

Business tax climate rates among worst in US; unemployment reaches 23-year high, but remains among lowest in nation; weak tax revenue forces state spending cuts; business conditions improve with growth in new orders and production.

• State job growth fell 3.2% in August 2009 from a year ago; national job growth fell 4.4%.
• State unemployment averaged 6.8% in August 2009; the national average was 9.7%
• Personal income rose 0.4% to $113 billion in Q2 2009 from a year ago.
• Tax revenue fell 9.5% in Q2 2009 from the previous year.
• Exports fell 23.8% to $3.5 billion in the first seven months of 2009 from a year ago.