Workforce
According to the results of a study conducted by the Pathfinders, a site selection consulting group located in Dallas, Texas, the Rockford area has a skilled and reliable workforce, drawing upon a household population of approximately 807,300 people in Boone, Winnebago and neighboring counties and totaling nearly 435,000 workers. This “labor shed” contains approximately 16,800 unemployed people who are actively seeking work. Another 46,200 in the area can be classified as “underemployed” — people currently employed who would take a better job if offered by a new or existing employer and who possess the skills, experience, and education to qualify them to do so. In addition, 2,500 persons are not working but would consider re-entering the workforce. In total, 65,500 workers are currently available for employers.
Skills of both the underemployed and employed fall largely in office operations, warehouse/material handling, and manufacturing/assembly/fabrication, with strong representation in medical/health sciences, maintenance and installation, technician/quality assurance, information, and telecommunications as well.
A profile of existing workers was developed based upon interviews conducted with senior management and human resource professionals from industrial, commercial or service sector companies located within the area.
The Results:
- 91% of the employers rated the productivity of the workforce as “Good” to “Excellent.”
- 91% of the employers rated worker reliability as “Good” to “Excellent”, and
- 88% of the employers rated worker attitude as “Good” to “Excellent.”
The Rockford area provides many resources for both employers and employees including, but not limitied to, Continuous Improvement Series, continuing education and workforce development.
For information on the Rockford area workforce and the resources the area can provide, please visit the links on the right column. For a comprehensive analysis of the area’s labor force and commuting characteristics, please read the Labor Shed Analysis and Commuting Analysis.
For additional information contact Mark Podemski at 815.987.8118 ext 124 or email mpodemski@rockfordil.com.