Winneshiek County Economic Development

Winneshiek County

Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce

Winneshiek County

Quality of Life has inched into the top spot in the U.S. that businesses now give for relocating. That’s a big advantage for Decorah and Winneshiek County because the area offers a way of life that many people can only dream of. Midwest Living magazine says that Decorah is one of the top 100 small towns to visit in the Midwest. But for the people who live here, it’s definitely No. 1.

Economic Overview

  • As of 2023 the region’s population declined by 0.1% since 2018, falling by 11. Population is expected to increase by 0.9% between 2023 and 2028, adding 172.
  • From 2018 to 2023, jobs declined by 3.1% in Winneshiek County, IA from 12,958 to 12,555. This change fell short of the national growth rate of 3.6% by 6.7%. As the number of jobs declined, the labor force participation rate decreased from 68.2% to 66.4% between 2018 and 2023.
  • Concerning educational attainment, 19.0% of Winneshiek County, IA residents possess a Bachelor’s Degree (2.1% below the national average), and 15.2% hold an Associate’s Degree (6.2% above the national average).
  • The top three industries in 2023 are Education and Hospitals (Local Government), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools, and Restaurants and Other Eating Places.

Top Ten Employers


Employer Service or Product Number of Employees
Luther College Colleges and universities 640 employees
Northeast Iowa Community College Community college located in Calmar, Iowa 500 employees
Stanley Engineered Fastening Engineering and manufacturing of drill screws and fasteners 456 employees
Winneshiek Medical Center General medical and surgical hospitals 430 employees
Bruening Rock Products General contractor 410 employees
Wal-Mart Retail sales 350 employees
Rockwell Collins Provider of innovative communication and aviation electronics solutions 270 employees
Decorah Community Schools K-12 public education – encompassing three schools 250 employees
Radius Global Solutions, LLC Debt collection 165 employees
Northeast Iowa Community Action Non-profit social services 200 employees

Source: Business and Labor Data, Winneshiek County Development Inc.

Population and Demographics


Apr 1, 2011 Census Jan 1, 2013 Estimate Numeric Change Proportional Change
United States 311,587,816 0.9%
Iowa 3,064,097 0.6%
Winneshiek County 21,024 ‐0.2%
    Decorah, City

Sources: Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics

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