Labor Availability & Productivity

Quad Cities First uses a target industry approach to business attraction, recruitment and development, focusing on specific clusters that have the right infrastructure for strong, sustainable presence in the region. A big component of cluster identification was the availability of qualified labor, to help ensure that businesses that relocate to the region can find qualified labor for the specific jobs they require.

The Laborshed Analysis, conducted in June 2010, addresses underemployment, the availability and willingness of current employees to change employment within the workforce, current and desired occupations, wages, hours worked, and distance willing to commute to work. For a condensed report, see the Executive Summary.

The table below shows a select sample of the analysis that was conducted on behalf of Quad Cities First. This research specifically identifies not only the number of people in the region with the same jobs, but those in compatible jobs based on highly compatible skills sets (O*Net).


Available Labor for Jobs Quad Cities Region (Across All Industries/April 2010)

Standard Occupational Code
Title% of IndustryTarget JobsCompatible JobsTarget Median Hourly Earnings
11-1021
General and operations managers
1.881,3192,081$39.39
13-1023Purchasing agents, except wholesale, retail, and farm products2.771,01513.581$31.13
13-1031
Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
7.7144922,688$24.82
13-1081
Logisticians
2.968502,328$36.69
15-1032Computer software engineers, systems software2.173512,680$43.63
15-1051
Computer systems analysts
3.486412,464$36.69
19-3021
Market research analysts
2.322617,181$22.05
41-3021
Insurance sales agents
7.045522,007$18.84
49-9042
Maintenance and repair workers, general
3.371,3974,581$16.66
51-1011First-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers
3.511,1062,618$26.06
51-4041Machinists1.51,1993,672$18.49
Source: Ady-Voltedge & Janus Economics, in proprietary research sponsored by Quad Cities First, 2010.

Notes: % of Industry = percent of industry skilled labor accounted for by each SOC; Target Jobs = Number of workers in the Quad Cities region that are classified in that SOC, regardless of industry; Compatible Jobs = Number of workers in the Quad Cities region that have highly compatible skill sets (O*Net). Contact Quad Cities First for information on additional Standard Occupation Codes and other related data.