Growth and the Shortfall
In the 1939 movie, The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy says, “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” It’s a phrase that has come to mean that we have stepped outside of what is considered normal; we have entered a place or circumstance that is unfamiliar and uncomfortable. But we are seeing growth all around us, and growth is a good thing, right? For example:
- Cedar Rapids’ downtown mixed-use development project, 1st and 1st
- New housing plans to build four multifamily housing complexes at the Westdale site
- A five-year facility plan for Linn Mar schools to include new construction and other projects
- A proposal for future Cedar Rapids School District projects estimated at $323M
All these projects and many others are much needed and great for the area, economy, and local businesses. The underlying detail that is missing though, is there is currently an estimated 2 million workers missing from the labor force. Most businesses are struggling to find employees to design, build, and provide materials for these projects. Thinking outside of the box seems to be helping attract some employees, but what is the long-term solution? We need a proven achievable answer to the shortfall of employees.
Can someone tell me how to find that yellow brick road again or where I left my ruby slippers?