Why Des Moines is a Great City for Young Professionals

Des Moines, Iowa is a vibrant, growing city that has become an attractive destination for many young professionals. I moved to the city after graduating college in May of 2018 and have really enjoyed my time here so far.

There are numerous factors that make the city desirable, but listed below are a few key reasons why Des Moines is a great city for young professionals.

4 Reasons Why Des Moines is a Great City for Young Professionals

1. It’s Still Growing

According to the Census Bureau, “Des Moines has been the fastest growing city in the Midwest. Approximately 33 people per day moved to Des Moines in 2017.” This statistic clearly shows how popular of a destination Des Moines has become recently.

The Des Moines Register also quoted Jay Byers (CEO of Greater Des Moines Partnership) noting that “over the past decade, greater Des Moines has out-performed Kansas City, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Chicago and Milwaukee, not only in population growth, but in job growth and GDP.”

As a young professional myself, this is extremely reassuring to know that Des Moines has been a great place to start my career, and also grow as a professional over time.

2. Community Involvement & Networking Opportunities

I’ve quickly found out that Des Moines is full of involvement and networking opportunities for young professionals.

I recently became a member of the Young Professionals Connection (YPC), which is an initiative of the Greater Des Moines Partnership with a mission to “promote an environment that attracts and retains young professionals in Greater Des Moines.”

Joining the YPC has been a great way to get involved in the community, meet other driven individuals, and improve myself professionally.

Outside of the YPC, I’ve found myself attending multiple networking events in the community to connect with other professionals and increase my network in the city.

Ultimately, Des Moines provides numerous opportunities to get involved, and it’s been a goal of mine to attend even more events in 2019.

3. Entertainment

When it comes to entertainment for young professionals, I would argue that Des Moines doesn’t get enough credit in this aspect. Whether it’s the nightlife scene, concerts, farmers markets, state fair, local breweries, or sporting events, the city has plenty to offer.

I’ve become a huge fan of the local breweries such as Exile Brewing Company, Peace Tree Brewing, and Court Avenue Restaurant & Brewing Co. I have also enjoyed attending Iowa Cubs games during the summer time and am really looking forward to the 2019 NCAA Tournament coming to town in March.

Obviously the Iowa State Fair and Downtown Farmers’ Market have been staples of the city’s entertainment during the summer, and I’ve had great experiences with these events.

4. Notable Companies = Career Opportunities

The Greater Des Moines area is home to many successful and well established organizations. Principal Financial, Hy-Vee Corporate, Meredith Corporation, PWC, EMC Insurance, Kum & Go Corporate, Wellmark, KPMG, Casey’s Corporate, and several other companies.

As a result, having notable companies like these opens the door for multiple career opportunities for young professionals in the area. I would highly encourage any recent, or soon to be college graduate to check out career opportunities in the Des Moines area.

I’m glad I pursued an opportunity here, and can’t wait to see what the future holds for me in this city.

Final Take

I’ve quickly learned that Des Moines is a great area for young professionals, and especially recent college graduates who are just starting their careers.

Continued growth, involvement opportunities, entertainment, and well established companies. Although there are other factors that make Des Moines appealing for young professionals, these four set the city apart from others.

Reach Out

Interested in learning more about what it’s like to live in Des Moines as a young professional? Reach out on the Contact Page and I’ll let you know.

Also a huge thanks to Tony Simons Photography for letting me use the images of Des Moines!