Iowa's economy has transformed markedly over the years. For more than a decade, the state has enjoyed persistent nonfarm employment growth. The economy of the 1990s, in terms of its composition, is substantially different from the economy of a decade or two before. Some of the changes mirror changes made nationally -- the emergence of information technologies, computers, software, along with the expansion of the personal and business services sectors. Other changes are unique to the state and may represent a capitalization upon Iowa's existing strengths, i.e., food processing, animal and plant sciences. In addition, some of the changes may represent broad-based shifts in the location and kinds of production nationally.