FEDA, Iowa Workforce partner for new labor study

The Fairfield Economic Development Association has partnered with Iowa Workforce Development to complete an updated area laborshed employment study to better understand the workforce in Jefferson County and to assist in the group?s economic development attraction, retention and expansion efforts.

This study, which will replace an existing laborshed released in 2008, will develop an estimated total potential Jefferson County labor force and assist existing and potential new businesses in better understanding the County?s labor force and its characteristics. Access Energy Cooperative and FEDA are supporting sponsors of the study, a service of Iowa Workforce Development.

For the success of this study and to determine accurate area laborshed boundaries, it is critical that Jefferson County employers participate and answer the survey they will be receiving shortly in the mail, said Brent Willett, FEDA executive director. ?Through the mail survey, the Fairfield Economic Development Association is requesting of local employers to provide aggregate counts of their employees by zip code and by place of residence to determine commuting patterns and other trends.?

For the complete article, see the Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011, printed edition of The Fairfield Ledger.