Des Moines Area Economic Summary
Updated June 28, 2017
This summary presents a sampling of economic information for the area; supplemental data are provided for regions
and the nation. Subjects include unemployment, employment, wages, prices, spending, and benefits. All data are
not seasonally adjusted and some may be subject to revision. Area definitions may differ by subject. For more area
summaries and geographic definitions, see www.bls.gov/regions/economic-summaries.htm.
Unemployment rates for the Des Moines area,
selected area counties, and the nation
Average weekly wages for all industries by county
Des Moines area, 4th quarter 2016
(U.S. = $1,067; Area = $1,063)
Unemployment rates
4.5
United States
4.1
3.1
Des Moines
area
2.8
2.5
Dallas Co.
2.0
3.1
Madison Co.
3.3
3.3
Polk Co.
2.9
3.0
Warren Co.
2.6
0.0
2.0
4.0
May-16
6.0
May-17
Source: U.S. BLS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics.
Source: U.S. BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.
Over-the-year changes in employment on nonfarm payrolls and employment by major industry sector
12-month percent changes in employment
Percent
Des Moines area employment
(numbers in thousands)
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
May-14
Des Moines area
May-15
United States
May-16
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
May-17
Total nonfarm
Mining, logging, and construction
Manufacturing
Trade, transportation, and utilities
Information
Financial activities
Professional and business services
Education and health services
Leisure and hospitality
Other services
Government
Change from May
May 2017
2016 to May 2017
Number
Percent
9.2
2.6
0.0
-0.2
-0.4
0.5
3.6
0.3
2.2
0.4
0.2
2.6
13.1
0.0
-0.3
-5.9
0.9
7.6
0.6
6.0
3.2
0.4
368.8
22.4
20.0
67.8
6.4
55.7
50.9
48.9
38.6
13.0
45.1
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
• www.bls.gov/ro6
Over-the-year changes in the selling prices received by
producers for selected industries nationwide
Over-the-year change in the prices paid by urban
consumers for selected categories
12-month percent change in CPI-U, May 2017
6.0
5.4
Midwest region
U.S. city average
2.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
1.9
-1.0
1.4
0.9
-2.0
0.4
0.0
General freight trucking
Hospitals
Direct life insurance carriers
3.0
4.1
4.0
12-month percent changes in PPI
Percent
4.0
All Items
Food
-3.0
Energy
-4.0
May-14
Source: U.S. BLS, Consumer Price Index.
Average annual spending and percent distribution for
selected categories
Midwest Region average annual expenditures 2015
May-15
Housing
$17,370
31.5%
Personal
insurance &
pensions
$6,260
11.4%
Des Moines
area
Food
$7,090
12.9%
Transportation
$9,597
17.4%
Total:
$55,071
Source: U.S. BLS, Consumer Expenditure Survey.
Employer costs per hour worked for wages and
selected employee benefits by geographic division
Private industry, March 2017
Total compensation
Wages and salaries
Total benefits
Paid leave
Vacation
Supplemental pay
Insurance
Retirement and savings
Legally required benefits
West North
Central (1)
$29.86
20.97
8.90
2.02
1.10
0.78
2.47
1.22
2.40
(1) West North Central includes IA, KS, MN, MO, ND, NE, and SD.
Source: U.S. BLS, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation.
United
States
$33.11
23.06
10.06
2.30
1.18
1.17
2.65
1.34
2.60
United
States
Total, all occupations
$23.76
$23.86
Financial managers
59.98
67.17
Actuaries
46.77
54.87
41.45
44.05
Computer systems analysts
Network and computer systems
administrators
Healthcare
$4,616
8.4%
May-17
Average hourly wages for selected occupations
Occupation
All other
$10,138
18.4%
May-16
Source: U.S. BLS, Producer Price Index.
36.45
40.63
Accountants and auditors
33.76
36.89
Loan officers
32.45
36.67
Registered nurses
28.08
34.70
Construction laborers
19.74
18.22
Customer service representatives
18.03
16.91
Retail salespersons
13.64
13.07
9.02
9.89
Cooks, fast food
Source: U.S. BLS, Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2016.
Over-the-year changes in wages and salaries
Percent
4.0
12-month percent changes in ECI
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0
Mar-14
West North Central
Mar-15
Source: U.S. BLS, Employment Cost Index.
Midwest Information Office • [email protected] • https://www.bls.gov/regions/midwest/ • 312-353-1880
United States
Mar-16
Mar-17