Update - Laborshed Study to be conducted in Waverly

posted in Economic Development on January 17, 2024

LABORSHED STUDY TO BE CONDUCTED IN WAVERLY

Waverly Economic Development is partnering with Iowa Workforce Development and Iowa Economic Development Authority to complete a Laborshed employment study for the Waverly area.  This study will geographically define which communities contribute to Waverly’s workforce, regardless of political boundaries. This defined area is called a Laborshed area and is based upon commuting patterns.

The purpose of this Laborshed study is to measure the availability and characteristics of Waverly area workers. Laborshed studies are useful tools for economic development teams and existing or prospective employers to understand the local labor market, make informed expansion and site selection decisions, and maintain/recruit a high-quality workforce.

The Laborshed boundary is based on the place of residence of individuals commuting into the Waverly area for employment.  For the success of this study, we will be sending letters to employers in Waverly asking that they provide us with aggregate counts of their employees’ residential ZIP codes.  This reporting will give us an understanding of where each community’s workforce resides.

Every year Iowa Workforce Development conducts Laborshed studies across the State. The results of each analysis are publicly available online at workforce.iowa.gov/laborshed.  If you have any questions about the Laborshed project, please contact Bridget Weddle at 515-281-7525 or Connie Tolan with Waverly Economic Development at 319-352-9210.