NEO Agencies Collaborating to Determine Market Data for Hiring and Business Attraction

7/8/2010 5

To gather real-time market data on the starting wages and benefits in nine industry sectors within Northeast Ohio, Team Northeast Ohio (Team NEO) in partnership with The Corporate University, Kent State University at Stark, is conducting the bi-annual Northeast Ohio Starting Wage and Benefits Survey. The survey results will be used to forecast hiring trends for the next 12 months within those industry sectors. In addition, Team NEO and metro area economic development organizations will use the data to help retain and attract businesses in Northeast Ohio. The third installation of the Survey, this year the groups have added questions regarding the current and future workforce needs of Northeast Ohio businesses, which will be used to evaluate business needs and plan regional economic development.

This data is compiled bi-annually and does not exist elsewhere. Now through July 21, Team NEO, companies and organizations in the 16-county region with 25 or more employees are being asked to respond. Companies that fit this profile should have an authorized company representative visit the following link http://www.surveymk.com//s/neowagesurvey to complete it. Team NEO will email the survey link to 7,700 companies in Northeast Ohio.
Only those companies that respond will have access to the data early this fall.

This data has proven to help attract new businesses in the past. Brian Cato, Senior Vice President of Operations for SP Data, recently commented, “The economic development organizations in Northeast Ohio do a great job of understanding what businesses need and how to match employers with the region’s workforce. That is why we chose to locate here.” A call center industry leader, SP Data provides outsourced sales and customer care service to multi-national corporate clients. They recently filled 100 positions in their new Cleveland office.

This survey is being funded by a grant awarded to the Cleveland/Cuyahoga County Workforce Investment Board under the Community Based Job Training Grants, as implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration.

For more information contact:
Kelli Baxter, Director, The Corporate University, Kent State University at Stark
Phone: 330.244.3505 | Email: kbaxter@kent.edu

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