Keeping Iowans here isn’t just an economic issue — it’s an identity issue. It’s about whether people feel like they belong, whether their future feels possible, and whether their community gives them enough reason to stay. But right now, too many young adults in Iowa don’t see a path here. They graduate high school or college and immediately look toward bigger states — not because they don’t love Iowa, but because Iowa hasn’t invested in the things that make a place livable, joyful, and worth calling home. Retention should spark growth, connection, and opportunity — not stagnation.

I’m 24 years old, and I’m one of the lucky ones. I moved to Dubuque in 2014. I went to Jefferson Middle School, then Hempstead, then the University of Dubuque. I became a drum major, a student leader, a youth mentor, a social worker, a commissioner, and an advocate because this community gave me the chance to plant my feet and find my spark. But I also know the truth: not every young person gets that same chance. Too many of my peers didn’t stay long enough to find community here — because the opportunities, support, and vibrancy they needed just weren’t available.

Iowa’s average adult is 52 years old — clear evidence that we’re losing young people faster than we’re keeping them. When young adults don’t see creative jobs, diverse spaces, public transportation, affordable housing, or things to do that don’t revolve around drinking, smoking, partying, or gambling, they leave. And when they leave, employers follow. Schools shrink. Communities weaken. The spark that makes a place feel alive starts to fade.

Spark the Truth: What the Numbers Show

Iowa’s workforce retention crisis isn’t coming — it’s here.

Iowa has lost nearly 10,000 young adults ages 18–35 over the past decade (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024). With a minimum wage still stuck at $7.25, a full-time worker earns just $15,080 a year, making it nearly impossible for young Iowans to afford rent, groceries, student loan payments, or childcare.

Iowa Workforce Development projects the state could face over 140,000 unfilled jobs by 2030 — a shortage that will choke local businesses and slow statewide growth (Iowa Workforce Development, 2024). And since 2018, public school enrollment has fallen by more than 8,000 students, weakening districts and accelerating school closures (Iowa Department of Aging, 2025).

A shrinking, aging population means fewer workers supporting more seniors — an imbalance that will break Iowa’s economy if we don’t act.

Spark Our Future: What This Means for District 71

District 71 feels this loss in ways the data can’t fully capture.

Young people in Dubuque talk openly about leaving — not because they don’t love their city, but because they don’t see enough here to build a life. They want walkable neighborhoods, fresh entertainment options, safe queer spaces, live music, cultural diversity, public transit, and jobs where they can grow. But on too many nights, the only things to do are tied to alcohol culture — and that drives young talent away.

When graduates leave Hempstead, Senior, NICC, or UD and head straight for Chicago, Minneapolis, Atlanta, or Denver, the North End loses potential homeowners. Local businesses lose future employees. Crescent, UnityPoint, and Finley lose future nurses, social workers, and medical assistants. And the city loses young leaders who could shape its future.

Not every young person gets the mentorship, belonging, or community ties that kept me here — and that’s exactly why the state must step in.

Ignite the Path Forward

Keeping Iowans home means building an Iowa where young people want to stay, where they feel represented, celebrated, and supported — and where they don’t have to choose between their dreams and their home.

I will fight to:

• Raise the minimum wage so young adults can afford to stay in their hometown.
• Expand partnerships between local colleges, nonprofits, and employers to keep graduates here.
• Grow creative and cultural industries that attract young talent.
• Strengthen public transportation and walkability in Dubuque.
• Create safe, sober, community-based spaces for young adults.
• Invest in housing affordability and first-time homebuyer programs.
• Advance inclusive policies so Black, LGBTQ+, and immigrant young adults feel safe and valued.

Iowa doesn’t have to become another Oklahoma — losing talent, shrinking its future, and pushing out the next generation. We can choose a different path. We can spark a state where young people stay, grow, and lead.

District 71 deserves a future that keeps its brightest here at home — and builds an Iowa worth returning to.

References

Iowa Department of Aging. (2025). State aging demographics overview. https://aging.iowa.gov
Iowa Workforce Development. (2024). Future-ready workforce projections. https://www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov
U.S. Census Bureau. (2024). State population by age and migration trends. https://www.census.gov