In a survey of employers in the South Bend-Elkhart (SBE) region, the South Bend-Elkhart Regional Partnership found more than 80 percent of participants added workers in the last six months, with 63 percent already planning further employment growth in 2020. This is a slight decrease from 85 percent in 2017, however considerable future job growth is expected compared to 18 percent in 2018. The average annual wage of occupations in the region’s specialized industry clusters exceeded the average private sector wages, and the SBE region is catching up in those specialized industries compared to the national average.
The workforce outlook is contained in a voluntary survey of compensation practices and policies of 98 employers representing nearly 30,000 employees in the seven-county region served by the South Bend-Elkhart Regional Partnership. Survey participants include some of the area’s leading employers engaged in manufacturing, medical, logistics, financial, education and other activities, some with annual sales of hundreds of millions of dollars and others with only a few employees.
New Info on Elkhart Wages
“The diversity of participants and the wide geographic range make the survey and report a valuable tool supporting the partnership’s work attracting new investment to the region while supporting growth of existing employers,” South Bend-Elkhart Regional Partnership President and CEO Regina Emberton says. “The survey helps us demonstrate the South Bend-Elkhart region’s competitive workforce advantages for employers.”
The survey collected data about benefits packages and policies including health care costs paid by employers and employees, retirement benefits, training, vacation and other employment perks. The report includes regional wage data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics highlighting over 350 occupations. New this year, is the addition of Annual Average Wage data for the regions specialized and emerging industry clusters offering a comprehensive 2019 Wages and Benefits Report for the South Bend-Elkhart Region.
Emberton says the report serves two main purposes. The collection of up-to-date data helps the South Bend-Elkhart Regional Partnership and participating economic development organizations recruit investment in the area by providing an accurate picture of workforce costs in the region. In addition, participating employers learn how their compensation practices compare with other employers in the region.
To read the full report, click here.
