A presentation to the North Central Illinois Council of Governments Economic Development District Committee meeting on Tuesday, October 21, 2014.

1. North Central Illinois
Labor Availability Report
Presented by
Brian Harger and Melissa Henriksen
to
North Central Illinois Economic Development District
at Illinois Valley Community College
October 21, 2014

2. Overview
North Central Illinois EDD Labor Availability Report
• Underemployment Study part of a larger Regional Analysis of economic conditions.
• Underemployment Study conducted by Pathfinders, Inc.–Completed in Aug. 2014.
• The survey area included Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall, Putnam and Stark counties.
• Results are based on telephone interviews with individuals (employed and
unemployed), as well as businesses within the region.
• Interviews were completed with 450 individuals and 20 businesses.
• Business characteristics: 29% Manufacturing; 18% Education; 14% Heath care and
Social Assistance; and 12% Wholesale/Retail Trade.
• Business characteristics: 30% had fewer than 50 employees; 29% had 50 to 99
employees; 11% had 100 to 249 employees; 22% had 250 to 499 employees; and 8%
had 500 or more employees.
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3. Key Findings
North Central Illinois EDD Labor Availability Report
• The North Central Illinois region has…
• a household population of approximately 170,100;
• a civilian labor force of approximately 87,100;
• and a pool of approximately 9,400 unemployed persons who are actively seeking work.
• Survey indicates that a new/expanding employer can attract employees from
an additional pool of 16,300 underemployed workers.
• Together with the unemployed, actively seeking work individuals, the
North Central Illinois region has approximately 25,700 available
workers for new or existing employers.
3
Total Available Workers
Number of Underemployed Workers 16,300
Number of Unemployed, Actively Seeking Work Individuals 9,400
Total Number of Workers Available for Employers 25,700

4. Key Findings
North Central Illinois EDD Labor Availability Report
• The median current pay rate of the underemployed workers in the labor shed
is $18.00 per hour, and their median desired pay rate is $19.75 per hour.
• Results indicate that underemployed workers are willing to commute an avg. of
31 miles to a new job, in contrast to their current avg. commute of 17 miles.
• Approximately 23% of those underemployed and 21% of those unemployed,
actively seeking work have bachelor’s degrees or higher.
• The median desired pay rate of the unemployed workers who are actively
seeking work is $12.00 per hour.
• In total, the North Central Illinois region has approximately 25,700 available
workers for new or expanding businesses.
4

5. Characteristics of the Underemployed
North Central Illinois EDD Labor Availability Report
• The 16,300 underemployed workers might also be termed “upgraders”.
 They desire to move into an upgraded job and appear to possess the skills, education,
and experience to do so.
• The gender split is roughly equal (52% Male/48% Female).
• Average age of underemployed respondents is 42 years; the largest share
(34%) are between 45 and 54 years old.
• Approximately 38% of underemployed hold a college or vocational/technical
degree. An additional 26% have some college but no degree.
• The average commute distance of the underemployed workers is 17 miles, but
would be willing to commute nearly twice that distance for a better job.
• Approximately 60% have been in their current job 5 years or less.
5

6. Characteristics of the Underemployed
North Central Illinois EDD Labor Availability Report
Manufacturing/Assembly
19%
Medical/Healthcare
11%
Sales/Service
10%
Government/
Education
Agriculture 9%
8%
Other
6%
Maintenance/Installation/
Repair
6%
Food Service/Hospitality
Distribution
8%
8%
Information Technology
5%
Construction/Utilities
5%
Office/Administration
5%
Current Job
6

7. Experience of the Underemployed
North Central Illinois EDD Labor Availability Report
Type of Training Course Number of
Workers*
Percent of
Total
Average Years
of Experience
Customer Service 10,900 67% 12
Office Operations 9,800 60% 11
Manufacturing/Assembly/Fabrication 8,600 53% 13
Warehouse/Distribution/Transportation 8,300 51% 8
Sales 7,500 46% 9
Maintenance/Installation/Repair 6,500 40% 14
Information Technology 5,700 35% 11
Telecommunications 4,700 29% 8
Medical/Healthcare 3,600 22% 11
Call Center 3,400 21% 4
7
Note: Individuals polled normally have experience and skills in multiple categories; therefore, the category number of workers will not total to the number
of underemployed, nor will the percentages equal 100. Figures are rounded.

8. Skills of the Underemployed
North Central Illinois EDD Labor Availability Report
Type of Training Course Number of
Workers*
Percent of
Total
Office Operations 10,300 63%
Warehouse/Logistics 10,100 62%
Manufacturing/Assembly/Fabrication 8,800 54%
Technician/Quality Assurance 7,200 44%
Information Technology 6,700 41%
Telecommunications 6,200 38%
Maintenance/Installation/Repair 6,000 37%
Electronics/Engineering 4,700 29%
Medial/Healthcare 4,100 25%
8
Note: Individuals polled normally have experience and skills in multiple categories; therefore, the category number of workers will not total to the number
of underemployed, nor will the percentages equal 100. Figures are rounded.

9. Training Interests of the Underemployed
North Central Illinois EDD Labor Availability Report
Type of Training Course Number of Workers* Percent of Total
Industrial Machine Operations 7,000 43%
Computer Software Applications 6,200 38%
Construction Trades 5,200 32%
Technical Trades 5,200 32%
Human Resources 5,100 31%
Computer Programming 5,100 31%
Computer Maintenance/Repair 4,700 29%
Healthcare 4,100 25%
Food Service or Hospitality 4,100 25%
Auto or Maintenance Mechanics 3,900 24%
Restaurant or Retail Management 3,700 23%
Real Estate or Insurance 3,600 22%
GED or Basic Reading, Writing, Arithmetic 3,100 19%
Commercial Vehicle Operations 2,900 18%
ESL (English as a Second Language) 2,100 13%
9
Note: Many respondents indicated interest in more than one program; the percent total will not equal 100. Figures are rounded.

10. National Comparisons of the Underemployed
North Central Illinois EDD Labor Availability Report
$18.00
Current Versus Desired Wages (Per Hour)
$19.75
$12.40
$14.12 $14.75
$16.26
$20.00
$22.72
$25.00
$20.00
$15.00
$10.00
$5.00
$0.00
Median Current Wage Median Desired Wage
NCI Region Lowest Median Highest
10
Note: Figures are rounded.

11. Characteristics of the Unemployed
North Central Illinois EDD Labor Availability Report
• There are approximately 9,400 unemployed workers that are actively
seeking work.
• The gender distribution is approximately 2:1 (66% Male/34% Female).
• Average age of unemployed respondents is 41 years; the largest share
(41%) are between 45 and 54 years old.
• Approximately 38% of the unemployed hold a college or
vocational/technical degree. An additional 20% have some college but
no degree.
• While 51% have been out of work a year or less, 28% have been
unemployed for more than 24 months.
• The most frequently reason cited for being out of work was because of
layoffs or job elimination.
11

12. Experience of the Unemployed
North Central Illinois EDD Labor Availability Report
Type of Training Course Number of
Workers*
Percent of
Total
Manufacturing/Assembly/Fabrication 6,700 71%
Sales 6,600 70%
Office Operations 5,200 55%
Warehouse/Distribution/Transportation 4,900 52%
Maintenance/Installation/Repair 4,300 46%
Customer Service 4,000 43%
Medical/Health Sciences 2,500 27%
Telecommunications 2,400 25%
Call Center 2,200 23%
Information Technology 1,500 16%
12
Note: Individuals polled normally have experience and skills in multiple categories; therefore, the category number of workers will not total to the number
of underemployed, nor will the percentages equal 100. Figures are rounded.

13. Skills of the Unemployed
North Central Illinois EDD Labor Availability Report
Type of Training Course Number of
Workers*
Percent of
Total
Office Operations 6,700 71%
Manufacturing/Assembly/Fabrication 6,400 68%
Warehouse/Logistics 4,700 50%
Medical/Health Sciences 3,700 39%
Maintenance/Installation/Repair 3,400 36%
Information Technology 3,400 36%
Telecommunications 3,200 34%
Electronics/Engineering 3,200 34%
Technician/Quality Assurance 2,200 23%
13
Note: Individuals polled normally have experience and skills in multiple categories; therefore, the category number of workers will not total to the number
of underemployed, nor will the percentages equal 100. Figures are rounded.

14. Employer’s View of the Workforce
North Central Illinois EDD Labor Availability Report
14
The Pathfinders analysis was based on interviews with senior
management and human resources professionals from 20 companies in
North Central Illinois.
Employer Recruitment Methods
Recruiting Method Hourly Workers
Percent of Employers
SalariedWorkers
Percent of Employers
Word of Mouth 50% 45%
Newspaper Ads 45% 30%
Internet 40% 55%
Staffing, Temp Agency 15% 15%
Walk‐Ins 15% 20%
Note: Employers were allowed to select multiple recruitment methods.

15. Employer’s View of the Workforce
North Central Illinois EDD Labor Availability Report
15
21
55
45
21
5
15
58
40
40
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Number of Employeees
(Past 12 Months)
Number of Employeees
(Next 12 Months)
State Unemployment Tax
(Past 24 Months)
Employment Trends and State Unemployment Tax Trends
No Change Decrease Increase

16. Employer’s View of the Workforce
North Central Illinois EDD Labor Availability Report
16
11
6
5
10
5
22
20
32
11
16
42
61
70
56
78
53
42
6
5
6
11
21
11
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Local Public Schools
Local Community
Colleges/Technical
Training Programs
Reading
Writing
Computer Skills
Mathematics
Employer’s Rating of Education System and Worker Competencies
Poor Fair Good Excellent

17. Employer’s View of the Workforce
North Central Illinois EDD Labor Availability Report
17
5
5
5
5
5
5
13
5
30
10
20
25
5
11
95
69
65
85
60
65
80
63
13
5
15
5
10
21
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Productivity
Reliability
Attitude
Teamwork
Entry Level Skills
Job Readiness
Trainability
Overall Rating
Employer’s Rating of Worker Attributes
Poor Fair Good Excellent

18. Employer’s View of the Workforce
North Central Illinois EDD Labor Availability Report
18
5
12
54% Rated Fair/Poor!
31
15
69% Rated Fair/Poor!
53% Rated Fair/Poor!
32
41
38
39
58
41
25
45
5
6
6
5
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Skilled
Technical
Professional
Unskilled
Employer’s Rating of Worker Availability by Occupational Class
Poor Fair Good Excellent

19. Employer’s View of the Workforce
North Central Illinois EDD Labor Availability Report
19
30
20
65% Rated Fair/Poor!
35
26
60
25
63
20
11
10
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Business Climate
Transportation System
Quality of Life
Employer’s Rating of Regional Attributes
Poor Fair Good Excellent

20. Other Findings
North Central Illinois EDD Labor Availability Report
• The experience and skills of underemployed in the NCI region exceed those of
individuals in other areas surveyed by Pathfinder’s for nearly every occupation.
• Wage or salary expectations are slightly higher than other areas surveyed by
Pathfinder’s, but may be related to a higher level of experience and skills.
• 65% of employers interviewed stated their companies had operations in other
regions of the United States.
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• Of these employers, those familiar with the workforces in those other locations
reported their North Central Illinois area operations were comparable or better
than the other regions in terms of profitability and production.
• The majority of employers also rated worker absenteeism, tardiness, turnover
and substance abuse as “low”.
• The employers concerns regarding availability of skill, professional and technical
workers, as well as the transportation system need to be further investigated
and addressed.

21. For Further Information, Contact:
Center for Governmental Studies
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, Illinois 60115
www.cgs.niu.edu
21
Brian Harger
Research Associate
bharger@niu.edu
Melissa Henriksen
Research Associate
mhenriksen@niu.edu
or