Davenport has a diversified economy with manufacturing, services and wholesale and retail sales as the major factors. John Deere is the largest employer in the Quad Cities. The service sector includes a large number of jobs provided by the numerous gambling casinos and jobs related to tourism.
Jobs are provided by the manufacturing of items such as construction machinery, agricultural implements, airplane parts, military equipment, sheet aluminum, meat and food products, electronic parts, and cement and foundry products.
The region's numerous banks and lending institutions, in collaboration with the state of Iowa, have created a positive fiscal environment for new companies and also for existing companies desiring to expand. In addition, job training programs are provided that offset employees' wages and training costs.
The top employers in the Davenport area include:
- Deere & CO
- Rock Island Arsenal
- Genesis Health Systems
- Alcoa
- Trinity Medical Center
- Tyson Fresh Meats
- Mid American Energy CO
- Kraft Foods, Inc
- AP AC
- Von Maur, Inc
- Excelon
- Kone, Inc
- Norscross Footwear Inc
- United Parcel Service
- Von Hoffman Inc
- Modern Woodmen of America
- Lee Enterprises
- Davenport Community School District
- Design-Build Associates, Inc
- Eastern Iowa Community College District
- City of Davenport
- Isle of Capri Davenport Inc
- IOC Davenport Inc
- Swiss Valley Farms, CO
- M&S Foods of Iowa Inc
Some of the common occupations where the majority of the workers have a college degree are registered nurses, wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives, managers, medical and clinical laboratory technicians, computer systems analysts, computer programmers and financial managers.
The following is a list of Davenport's top non-agricultural employment sectors:
- Trade, transportation and utilities
- Government
- Manufacturing
- Education and health services
- Professional and business services
- Leisure and hospitality
- Finance
Noteworthy information regarding Davenport Iowa: Davenport's skilled workforce can be employed at a lower cost than the nation's average. About 22% of the residents over the age of 25 have earned a bachelor's degree or higher. In 2008 the cost of living index in Davenport was at 79.7 which is lower than the national average of 100. In 2007 the estimated median household income was $39,000.
Davenport companies are able to collaborate with organizations such as:
The Quad-City Times provides up-to-date information about local businesses and industries.