According to a recent laborshed analysis done by Iowa Workforce Development, the total potential labor force from within the area where Jasper County currently draws employees is over 226,000. The county's labor force totals 20,630. The loss of jobs resulting from the Maytag closure in 2007 has been partially offset by the addition of two new companies making major components for wind turbines. Additional jobs were created by a new IT-support firm and a start-up company, successfully spun off of Maytag/Whirlpool, that provides contract engineering and R&D services. Many other employers are doing business in the county in food processing, fabricated metals, etc.

On a larger scale, the State if Iowa offers many advantages for doing business here:

• No sales tax on process electricity or natural gas
• Very competitive unemployment insurance rates
• No corporate income tax of profits from sales outside of Iowa
• Property tax exemptions on new manufacturing and distribution facilities
• Flexible job-training programs for new and current employees
• No personal property or inventory tax
• No property tax on manufacturing machinery, equipment, or computers
• Direct financial assistance for job creation and new capital investment.