DES MOINES, Iowa -- An association of Iowa's largest businesses is identifying challenges to the state's economy in the new year.
The Iowa Business Council says the state's continued record-low unemployment means a lack of skilled workers.
"Because there's so many people already in the system, it just stresses the workforce needs that much more. That's why we're so focused on initiatives like Future Ready Iowa and federal immigration reform--to try and get more workers into our system" says IBC Executive Director Joe Murphy.
He says the state's also faces a familiar issue in 2020--a slow growing population.
"We're not growing as fast as some of the fastest-growing states in the country. That really put a lot of external pressure on Iowa--the state of business, the state of the economy" Murphy says
He says Iowa's gross state product in 2019 was unchanged from 2018 despite a trade war with China and record flooding on the state's eastern and western borders.