Data / Rankings / Labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate) / Cities in Iowa

Cities in Iowa by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024

Grimes, IA had the highest labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate) of 41 cities in 2024, at 78.1%. Clinton, IA had the lowest, at 58%. The median was 66.9% and the figure for Iowa was 66.4%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest78.1Grimes, IA
Lowest58Clinton, IA
Median66.941 cities
Iowa66.4History

All cities, 2024

Grimes, IA: 78.1 %Grimes, IA78.1North Liberty, IA: 77.4 %North Liberty, IA77.4Waukee, IA: 77.3 %Waukee, IA77.3Ankeny, IA: 76.3 %Ankeny, IA76.3West Des Moines, IA: 72.7 %West Des Moines, IA72.7Clive, IA: 72.4 %Clive, IA72.4Norwalk, IA: 71.9 %Norwalk, IA71.9Johnston, IA: 71.2 %Johnston, IA71.2Des Moines, IA: 71.1 %Des Moines, IA71.1Le Mars, IA: 70.9 %Le Mars, IA70.9Urbandale, IA: 70.7 %Urbandale, IA70.7Altoona, IA: 70.3 %Altoona, IA70.3Storm Lake, IA: 70.3 %Storm Lake, IA70.3Coralville, IA: 68.9 %Coralville, IA68.9Cedar Falls, IA: 68.8 %Cedar Falls, IA68.8Cedar Rapids, IA: 68.4 %Cedar Rapids, IA68.4Iowa City, IA: 68.4 %Iowa City, IA68.4Marion, IA: 68.1 %Marion, IA68.1Pleasant Hill, IA: 67.3 %Pleasant Hill, IA67.3Sioux City, IA: 67.3 %Sioux City, IA67.3Marshalltown, IA: 66.9 %Marshalltown, IA66.9Pella, IA: 66.8 %Pella, IA66.8Boone, IA: 66.7 %Boone, IA66.7Ames, IA: 66.2 %Ames, IA66.2Davenport, IA: 65.7 %Davenport, IA65.7Waterloo, IA: 65.6 %Waterloo, IA65.6Waverly, IA: 65.5 %Waverly, IA65.5Indianola, IA: 65.5 %Indianola, IA65.5Spencer, IA: 65.1 %Spencer, IA65.1Bettendorf, IA: 65.1 %Bettendorf, IA65.1Dubuque, IA: 64.6 %Dubuque, IA64.6Oskaloosa, IA: 63.8 %Oskaloosa, IA63.8Mason City, IA: 63.5 %Mason City, IA63.5Carroll, IA: 63.1 %Carroll, IA63.1Council Bluffs, IA: 63 %Council Bluffs, IA63Ottumwa, IA: 62.9 %Ottumwa, IA62.9Newton, IA: 61.8 %Newton, IA61.8Muscatine, IA: 61.7 %Muscatine, IA61.7Burlington, IA: 61.3 %Burlington, IA61.3Fort Dodge, IA: 60.3 %Fort Dodge, IA60.3Clinton, IA: 58 %Clinton, IA58Grimes, IA: 78.1 %Grimes, IA78.1North Liberty, IA: 77.4 %North Liberty, IA77.4Waukee, IA: 77.3 %Waukee, IA77.3Ankeny, IA: 76.3 %Ankeny, IA76.3West Des Moines, IA: 72.7 %West Des Moines, IA72.7Clive, IA: 72.4 %Clive, IA72.4Norwalk, IA: 71.9 %Norwalk, IA71.9Johnston, IA: 71.2 %Johnston, IA71.2Des Moines, IA: 71.1 %Des Moines, IA71.1Le Mars, IA: 70.9 %Le Mars, IA70.9Urbandale, IA: 70.7 %Urbandale, IA70.7Altoona, IA: 70.3 %Altoona, IA70.3Storm Lake, IA: 70.3 %Storm Lake, IA70.3Coralville, IA: 68.9 %Coralville, IA68.9Cedar Falls, IA: 68.8 %Cedar Falls, IA68.8Cedar Rapids, IA: 68.4 %Cedar Rapids, IA68.4Iowa City, IA: 68.4 %Iowa City, IA68.4Marion, IA: 68.1 %Marion, IA68.1Pleasant Hill, IA: 67.3 %Pleasant Hill, IA67.3Sioux City, IA: 67.3 %Sioux City, IA67.3Marshalltown, IA: 66.9 %Marshalltown, IA66.9Pella, IA: 66.8 %Pella, IA66.8Boone, IA: 66.7 %Boone, IA66.7Ames, IA: 66.2 %Ames, IA66.2Davenport, IA: 65.7 %Davenport, IA65.7Waterloo, IA: 65.6 %Waterloo, IA65.6Waverly, IA: 65.5 %Waverly, IA65.5Indianola, IA: 65.5 %Indianola, IA65.5Spencer, IA: 65.1 %Spencer, IA65.1Bettendorf, IA: 65.1 %Bettendorf, IA65.1Dubuque, IA: 64.6 %Dubuque, IA64.6Oskaloosa, IA: 63.8 %Oskaloosa, IA63.8Mason City, IA: 63.5 %Mason City, IA63.5Carroll, IA: 63.1 %Carroll, IA63.1Council Bluffs, IA: 63 %Council Bluffs, IA63Ottumwa, IA: 62.9 %Ottumwa, IA62.9Newton, IA: 61.8 %Newton, IA61.8Muscatine, IA: 61.7 %Muscatine, IA61.7Burlington, IA: 61.3 %Burlington, IA61.3Fort Dodge, IA: 60.3 %Fort Dodge, IA60.3Clinton, IA: 58 %Clinton, IA58
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCities2024 (%)Change on 2023
1Grimes, IA78.1+1.7 pts
2North Liberty, IA77.4-2.3 pts
3Waukee, IA77.3-1 pts
4Ankeny, IA76.3-0.1 pts
5West Des Moines, IA72.7-1.2 pts
6Clive, IA72.4-0 pts
7Norwalk, IA71.9-2.2 pts
8Johnston, IA71.2-0.1 pts
9Des Moines, IA71.1+0.5 pts
10Le Mars, IA70.9+1.3 pts
11Urbandale, IA70.7-0.5 pts
12Altoona, IA70.3-2 pts
13Storm Lake, IA70.3+2.3 pts
14Coralville, IA68.9-1.1 pts
15Cedar Falls, IA68.8+0.8 pts
16Cedar Rapids, IA68.40 pts
17Iowa City, IA68.4+0.1 pts
18Marion, IA68.1-0.8 pts
19Pleasant Hill, IA67.3+4.9 pts
20Sioux City, IA67.3-0.3 pts
21Marshalltown, IA66.9+0.4 pts
22Pella, IA66.8+1.4 pts
23Boone, IA66.7-0.8 pts
24Ames, IA66.2+1.9 pts
25Davenport, IA65.7+0.7 pts
26Waterloo, IA65.6-0.4 pts
27Waverly, IA65.5-0.3 pts
28Indianola, IA65.5+1.2 pts
29Spencer, IA65.1+0.2 pts
30Bettendorf, IA65.1-1.3 pts
31Dubuque, IA64.6-0.3 pts
32Oskaloosa, IA63.8-2.8 pts
33Mason City, IA63.5-2.2 pts
34Carroll, IA63.1+2.2 pts
35Council Bluffs, IA63-0.5 pts
36Ottumwa, IA62.9+0.7 pts
37Newton, IA61.8+0.5 pts
38Muscatine, IA61.7-3.2 pts
39Burlington, IA61.3+1.2 pts
40Fort Dodge, IA60.3+2.1 pts
41Clinton, IA58+0.3 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People aged 16 and over in the labor force (employed, unemployed or in the Armed Forces) as a percentage of all people aged 16 and over, including people in group quarters. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

The Census Bureau definition used in its data profiles. It differs from the BLS labor_force_participation_rate, which counts the civilian noninstitutional population only.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the cities are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more) (Cities in Iowa by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b23025.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in Iowa by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b23025.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/iowa-cities. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Cities in Iowa by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b23025.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/iowa-cities.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in Iowa by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b23025.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/iowa-cities (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_cities_in_iowa_by_2024,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in Iowa by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b23025.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/iowa-cities. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in Iowa by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate), 2024
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b23025.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/iowa-cities
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/labor-force-participation-rate-acs/iowa-cities.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b23025.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Rank Cities in Iowa by labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate) using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

Which city has the highest labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Grimes, IA, with 78.1% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which city has the lowest labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate)?

Clinton, IA, with 58% in 2024.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B23025: population 16 years and over in the labor force as a percentage of the population 16 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Labor force participation rate (US five-year survey estimate): other rankings

Cities in Iowa: more rankings