Wages

Iowa - A Low Wage State & Why

The reality is that Iowa lags behind other neighboring states when it comes to wages ranging from a few thousand dollars less than the average wage in Nebraska to over $14,000 less than the average wage earner in Minnesota. It's a statistic you don't often hear from those who are trying to recruit and retain workers to the Hawkeye State. To flesh this out a bit our guest is Natalie Veldhouse a research associate at the Iowa Policy Project. Here is that story. 
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday at 2pm on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 
Our Sponsors
AARP-Iowa
National Tractor Parts Dealer Association
Oasis - A Paychex Company
Tero International

The Business News Headlines & More 2 October 2019

Yesterday it was manufacturing numbers that sent the markets down...today the employment numbers did the same. Welcome to the business news headlines for Wednesday the 2nd of October.  Today:
The markets tanked and why;
The U.S. has a "hiring" problem;
High prices got you down? There is Zulily ya know;
What's new for cars? The 7 year loan;
Automakers see trouble ahead;
Why not spend $ on your current workforce...no, really.
Those stories and more along with this conversation with Kari Carney and Julia McGuire from 1,000 Friends of Iowa. I know...right?  You'll hear about the work they do and why it's becoming even more important as we look to the future of climate change. Listen here. 

The Business News Headlines 17 September 2019

Nearly as fast as oil prices went up yesterday they headed back down today.  But, all of that didn't much help Wall Street as investors wonder what's next when it comes to the Fed.  Here for you today we're looking at these stories:
Oil, Gas and Consumers;
GM hits back at the UAW;
She is paid $22 million and why;
The strike and the local economy;
Fed and Rates;
Your job will be...mostly gone says Brian Solis.
Those stories and more along with Marketing for Business with Phil K. James of Good Milkshake Digital. We're talking about how to get your existing customers to buy more of what they want from you...and it works across nearly every vertical. Restaurants, grocery stores, hardware stores, coffee shops even lawyers. Here is that conversation. 
Thanks for listening! 

The Business News Headlines 12 September 2019

Among other things administration officials say there are no plans in the works to relax the trade war with China...oh and the deficit.  Those stories and more today...
Major business leaders tell the U.S. Senate to "Do something!";
China and the U.S. sure we've got a story;
The deficit and taxes...yep, that too;
Meanwhile subprime lending is...back;
The internet fells another retail giant;
Health Care and Insurance now resulting in high inflation.
Those stories and more along with this conversation with J.D. Scholten who is running, again, for congress in Iowa's 4th Congressional District. We caught up with him at the opening of The Forge a tech center in Jefferson last week. It's a conversation that deals with the size of that district, his motor home and Kevin Costner...no, really. Listen to that here. 
Thanks for coming by! 

Des Moines, Iowa & Poverty Part One

In this, the first of two parts of an interview with Elizabeth Buck, President of the United Way of Central Iowa and Seth Johnson program director for OpportUNITY we lay out several significant issues impacting a number of Iowans in the Greater Des Moines Metro. From housing to child care to transportation to wages...all within the shadow of what many of us see as a thriving community. We usually don't extend our interviews into two parts but, because so much is here...we thought it better to split up our conversation. Here is Part One.
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday at 2pm on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 
Our Sponsors
AARP-Iowa
National Tractor Parts Dealer Association
Oasis - A Paychex Company
Tero International

Des Moines, Iowa & Poverty Part Two

Here I continue my conversation with Elizabeth Buck and Seth Johnson from the United Way of Central Iowa as we discuss some possible ways to ease the pain of Central Iowans caught in crippling poverty and having to deal with housing, education, transportation and child care. "If you had a magic wand, what would you do?" It's worth listening...
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday at 2pm on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 
Our Sponsors
AARP-Iowa
National Tractor Parts Dealer Association
Oasis - A Paychex Company
Tero International

The Business News Headlines & More 6 September 2019

It's Friday...man did that come up fast this week. It's the business news headlines and we start off with the jobs report and the impact on Wall Street and...you:
The Jobs Report and Wages;
Six ways to save money...and food;
Facebook in trouble...again;
Too much coffee? Not in Chicago;
September = iPhones;
Skills and your career...lots of folks say they don't have 'em.
Those stories and more along with Jeff Pitts from Cityview Magazine with "Stuff to DO" in the Des Moines, Iowa Metro. Look, we spend every day on serious stuff...at least once a week we'll share some fun stuff...and stories from "brick-banging" to learning to be a director with some jousting thrown in for flavor.  Here you go! 

The Business News Headlines & More 5 September 2019

Early this morning the futures indicated the markets would open much higher and they did with the Dow rising well above 400 points and the markets stayed that way.  In the business news headlines today:
What happened on Wall Street & why;
Just what you need...a Facebook dating service;
Guns, Walmart & Stocks;
Air Travel and the 737 Max;
Why Apple is borrowing $7 billion;
The MOST demanding job...ever?
Those stories and more along with our guest chef and author Terrie Kohl. Here she talks about why she loves being the personal chef for hundreds of people, what cooking means, the new trends and we'll also talk about her new book, "Bringing Friends & Family Back Around the Table". Terrie Kohl in our Small Business Spotlight and thank you to The Coffeesmiths of Waukee, Iowa for letting us set up our studio at their location. To hear our conversation click here. 

The Business News Headlines & More 4 September 2019

It's the business news headlines for Wednesday the 4th of September and have we got the stories ramped up for you today...starting with Hong Kong:
The Stock Market and Global Realities;
The deficit narrows but our deficit with China grows;
Purdue Pharma said to prepare for bankruptcy;
Kicking over 3 million people off of food stamps;
You and your boss...a love hate relationship?
Those stories and more along with a conversation with Ro Crosbie the founder and president of Tero International about retaining employees. Look, we get it that finding high quality people is tough but why take the chance of losing the good employees you have?  Every manager or business owner should listen to these tips on employee retention. You can hear that conversation here. 

Employee Retention - Tips from Ro Crosbie & Tero International

We hear it everyday...if it isn't about trying to find quality employees it's about keeping valuable employees...employed. Here Ro Crosbie the founder and president of Tero International offers some solid tips for employee retention that have been proven to work. And, as a bonus, these tips might just be a boost to your personal relationship. No, really!  Let's talk retention because as you know it costs way more to onboard your next employee. 
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday at 2pm on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 
Our Sponsors
AARP-Iowa
National Tractor Parts Dealer Association
Oasis - A Paychex Company
Tero International