A labor market area (LMA) is an economically integrated unit within which workers may readily change jobs without changing their place of residence. Depending upon the relationship between where people live and where people work, labor markets can display a variety of geographic configurations. Labor market areas are defined in terms of a single county or a multi-county area. In the six New England states, cities and towns define the LMAs. 

By law, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) revises LMAs each census.  On June 6, 2003, the OMB announced additions to and revisions of existing MSAs.  Today's area definitions are core-based and termed either "metropolitan" (larger) or "micropolitan" (smaller) statistical areas.  No urban-rural distinction is intended, however.  One or more of the principal cities contained in each area determines its title. 

A metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is defined as a county or group of contiguous counties, which contain at least one city of 50,000 inhabitants or more, or "twin cities" with a combined population of at least 50,000.  Outlying counties are included in an MSA based on their population densities and the volume of commuting to central counties.  Iowa now has nine officially designated MSAs (see PDF map); six are located entirely within the states and three encompass counties in bordering states.  In June of 2003, an MSA was added for Ames (Story County).  Additional counties were also attached to seven of Iowa's previously existing MSAs.  Only Dubuque's metro area remained unchanged. 

Newly created micropolitan areas consist of one urban cluster with a population of at least 10,000, but less than 50,000.  Iowa has 14 such micropolitan statistical areas (see PDF map).  Counties having 25 percent commuting to the central county containing the urban cluster will also be included in the micropolitan area.

The OMB further designates a grouping called "combined statistical areas," which represent a combination of adjacent core-based areas.  For example, a combined area may consist of two MSAs, two micro areas, or any multiple mix of two or more such areas.  Iowa has four combined statistical areas:
 

COMBINED STATISTICAL AREA	COMPRISED OF:
Ames-Boone, IA	Ames MSA   + Boone Micropolitan Area
Des Moines-Newton, IA	Des Moines MSA   + Newton Micropolitan Area
Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA	Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA MSA   + Fremont, NE Micropolitan Area
Sioux City-Vermillion, SD	Sioux City, IA-NE-SD MSA   + Vermillion, SD Micropolitan Area

Iowa's Metropolitan Statistical Areas

Iowa's Micropolitan Statistical Areas

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