The Economic Development Council for Central Illinois (EDC) is conducting a comprehensive regional labor study for the Peoria Metro Area. The study consists of three components, Labor Quality, Labor Availability and a Labor Profile. A labor study provides community economic developers and existing or prospective employers a flexible tool to understand the local labor market and make informed expansion and site selection decisions.

The first portion of this study, the Labor Quality study, was launched recently. The top 225 employers in a four county area, Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford and Mason, were sent surveys electronically. Local employers will be asked to provide information about their employee base, including wages, salaries, benefits, commuting distances, skill levels and their experiences when hiring new workers. The goal of the survey is to evaluate the area’s workforce from the businesses’ perspective. The results will be used to identify and address workforce issues within the region and take steps to assure that the needs of area employers are being met, both now and in the future.

 “We encourage all those receiving surveys to participate; higher participation rates will enable us to better identify and address issues that are of importance to our employers” according to Vickie Clark, COO of the Economic Development Council for Central Illinois. The report will also be used as an economic development tool to help both existing and prospective new businesses assess the area’s workforce.

The regional labor study is an economic development tool that is needed to enhance the region’s ability to:
1.    Attract new businesses
2.    Retain current businesses and help them to expand
3.    Attract new investment to the region
While building a collaborative, regional approach to economic development, this tool will aid in preparing the Peoria Metro region to increase recruitment of new business, assist in identifying the value of economic development and better position the region for economic recovery. This tool will help the Peoria Metro region greatly increase our economic development success, making the lives of our residents better and our communities stronger.