RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 87 SHOWN OF 87

Lowest labor force participation, Iowa cities · 2020

Iowa cities with the smallest share of adults 16+ in the civilian labor force (2020 ACS). This list covers the 87 cities in Iowa that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 87 is 65.4%.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPLABOR FORCE PARTICIPATIONVS –

01Anamosa, IAIA5,90148.0%–

02Centerville, IAIA5,32750.2%–

03Clarinda, IAIA5,27351.9%–

04Oelwein, IAIA5,75753.1%–

05Iowa Falls, IAIA5,01356.2%–

06Fort Dodge, IAIA24,83756.4%–

07Clinton, IAIA24,04957.2%–

08Algona, IAIA5,30957.5%–

09Mount Pleasant, IAIA8,50058.0%–

10Fort Madison, IAIA9,93558.1%–

11Knoxville, IAIA7,46958.8%–

12Fairfield, IAIA9,22058.8%–

13Webster City, IAIA7,81559.0%–

14DeWitt, IAIA5,70459.6%–

15Clear Lake, IAIA7,60160.5%–

16Vinton, IAIA5,00460.6%–

17Denison, IAIA8,21460.8%–

18Charles City, IAIA7,01360.8%–

19Creston, IAIA7,33561.4%–

20Maquoketa, IAIA6,02761.6%–

21Keokuk, IAIA9,51061.8%–

22Burlington, IAIA23,33661.8%–

23Atlantic, IAIA6,67661.8%–

24Estherville, IAIA5,80762.5%–

25Osceola, IAIA5,67962.6%–

26Spencer, IAIA11,21862.7%–

27Marshalltown, IAIA27,53662.8%–

28Red Oak, IAIA5,38862.8%–

29Cherokee, IAIA5,12262.8%–

30Ottumwa, IAIA25,31962.8%–

31Grinnell, IAIA9,43063.0%–

32Newton, IAIA15,74163.0%–

33Davenport, IAIA100,35863.6%–

34Washington, IAIA7,26163.8%–

35Glenwood, IAIA5,28763.9%–

36Ames, IAIA68,22064.0%–

37Oskaloosa, IAIA11,49364.3%–

38Nevada, IAIA6,97464.6%–

39Council Bluffs, IAIA62,68064.6%–

40Carroll, IAIA10,08564.9%–

41Indianola, IAIA16,82965.2%–

42Perry, IAIA8,20865.2%–

43Waverly, IAIA10,56165.3%–

44Dubuque, IAIA59,14865.4%–

45Waterloo, IAIA66,91965.5%–

46Independence, IAIA6,31266.1%–

47Decorah, IAIA7,41766.2%–

48Pleasant Hill, IAIA11,23966.3%–

49Bettendorf, IAIA40,71066.3%–

50Mason City, IAIA26,85366.9%–

51Iowa City, IAIA76,22966.9%–

52Windsor Heights, IAIA5,05967.1%–

53Manchester, IAIA5,35767.4%–

54Muscatine, IAIA23,16467.4%–

55Asbury, IAIA6,03567.8%–

56Pella, IAIA10,99268.1%–

57Cedar Rapids, IAIA137,93568.7%–

58Le Mars, IAIA10,76069.0%–

59Orange City, IAIA6,46869.5%–

60Sioux City, IAIA86,35669.9%–

61Des Moines, IAIA212,08670.0%–

62Spirit Lake, IAIA5,52570.5%–

63Eldridge, IAIA6,95470.5%–

64Altoona, IAIA22,79671.1%–

65Clive, IAIA19,86171.2%–

66Sheldon, IAIA5,57571.3%–

67Storm Lake, IAIA11,59071.3%–

68Coralville, IAIA23,96071.6%–

69Cedar Falls, IAIA41,24071.6%–

70Boone, IAIA12,47171.7%–

71Marion, IAIA42,73271.9%–

72Winterset, IAIA5,52071.9%–

73Tiffin, IAIA7,15672.5%–

74Urbandale, IAIA48,57073.1%–

75West Des Moines, IAIA74,22473.5%–

76Sioux Center, IAIA8,86473.5%–

77Hiawatha, IAIA7,43274.9%–

78Adel, IAIA7,09875.0%–

79Johnston, IAIA25,06575.1%–

80Sergeant Bluff, IAIA5,32475.8%–

81Norwalk, IAIA15,00476.6%–

82Bondurant, IAIA9,64777.1%–

83Waukee, IAIA34,89078.4%–

84Ankeny, IAIA77,83378.5%–

85Grimes, IAIA17,40578.7%–

86North Liberty, IAIA21,97681.6%–

87Polk City, IAIA6,63084.7%–

SHOWING 1–87 OF 87

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS