A report by the Iowa Policy Project finds wages in the state have not increased despite a growing economy. The research looks into decades of salary trends and the strength of the economy. Colin Gordon wrote the report, and says Iowa has a weak wage structure meaning employees make less here than in other places in the region.

Gordon, says the economy grew steadily after the Second World War along with wages, but after the 70s wages barely increased while the economy doubled in size and more workers received higher educations.

Gordon says the trends are true nationally and stem from three main problems. There are fewer members of labor unions, a lack of a decent minimum wage, and regular periods of high unemployment.