The pace and patterns of growth in Iowa's economy have produced distinct groups of winners and losers during the past decade. Drastic differences are evident in both the geographic location and industrial mix of employment growth. New groups of industries are gaining importance to the state's economy, mirroring trends in the national economy. In other industries, Iowa is out of step with the rest of the nation. Some industries in decline nationally are growing in Iowa, and in still other industries, Iowa's growth lags behind national rates. These industrial strengths and weaknesses are distributed unevenly across the state and among its workforce. As we begin a new decade, it is useful to review recent changes in the Iowa economy, identify its strengths, and assess opportunities for future growth. This report describes the nature of nonfarm employment growth from 1987 to 1997 and discusses possible implications for Iowa's future economy.