Labor, as a major cost item for businesses, continues to be among the top concerns for plant retention, expansion and location decisions. In today's global, competitive environment, it is essential for firms to maintain a competitive advantage. A set of sound data on area labor provides a competitive edge for local development efforts in retention, expansion and location efforts.

Reports by various State and Federal agencies profile workforce characteristics in terms of employment, unemployment and total workforce. Qualities of labor issues are much more difficult to quantify and are mostly absent from public sources. Local surveys provide the information to fill the gap in local labor data, especially in rural areas.

This report is a result of the combined effort of Southeastern Illinois Regional Planning & Development Commission and the Central Illinois Public Service Company to provide information that will be responsive to its industrial customers, state policy makers and site location specialists. It will assist them in investment, job training and site location considerations.

With the assistance from Central Illinois Public Service Company, three hundred eighty-eight manufacturing/service firms with 5 or more employees within the counties of Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Pope and Saline were selected to receive a questionnaire. All responses and the identity of individual firms were kept classified, with the results combined to maintain confidentiality. Results of the survey will be shared with participating companies and interested parties.