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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Skilled Labor / STEM

Brooklyn Navy Yard’s CNC Training Fuels Its Resurgence

Kimberly Graulein, Staff Writer, Area Development (Q4 2024)

Workforce investments drive modern manufacturing innovation. More

Five Strategies to Tackle the Data Center Talent Shortage

Matt Landek, Managing Director, U.S. Data Center Work Dynamics and Project Development and Services Lead, JLL (Q4 2024)

The booming data center industry urgently needs more skilled workers to sustain growth. More

How Automation Is Actually Closing the Labor Gap

Courtney Dunbar, Site Selection & Economic Development Leader, Burns & McDonnell and Alfredo Valadez, Automation Consultant and Project Manager, Burns & McDonnell (Q4 2024)

Robotics and automation offer solutions to the critical labor shortage in the U.S., enhancing efficiency and worker safety and preparing the workforce for the future. More

St. Louis Aerospace Sector Takes Flight with $5 Billion in Investments and New Task Force

Kimberly Graulein, Staff Writer, Area Development (Q4 2024)

Mound City emerges as a hub for aerospace investments and jobs. More

The Cost of Labor and Workforce Skills Necessary for the Transition to an Electrified Auto Industry

Raymond Perez, Of Counsel, Fisher & Phillips LLP (Q3 2024)

Why executives must prioritize workforce skills for the electric vehicle transition. More

Green Jobs Boom in 2023: Is the IRA a Leading Factor?

Mike Chmura, Economist, Chmura Economics & Analytics (Q3 2024)

Is the IRA driving a surge in green jobs, or is it part of a broader clean energy movement? More

Which AI Tools Work for Job Recruiters?

Mark Crawford, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q3 2024)

Some AI tools make it easier for recruiters to find top candidates. Here’s the skinny: More

Emerging Markets in Aerospace: Navigating Federal Funding and Strategic Expansion

Tom Taylor, Managing Director, JLL’s Aerospace and Defense group (Q3 2024)

Strategic federal funding shifts are creating new growth opportunities in the aerospace sector. Here's how companies can navigate real estate choices, talent acquisition, and supply chain management to stay competitive. More

The War on Talent in Aerospace: Strategies for Attracting and Retaining a Skilled Workforce

Tom Taylor, Managing Director, JLL’s Aerospace and Defense group (Q3 2024)

Effective talent management is essential in today's aerospace and defense industry. By focusing on competitive compensation, modern facilities, and professional development, companies can secure the skilled workforce needed to thrive. More

Creative Recruiting Might Help Close the Manufacturing Skills Gap

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q2 2024)

Faced with a dearth of skilled workers, some companies are looking to high schools and community centers to find manufacturing labor. More

Mitigating Labor Challenges in Life Sciences Manufacturing

Adam Bloom, President, Stevenson Search Partners (Q2 2024)

Why executives facing manpower shortages must consider a menu of location planning, automation, and fostering a learning culture to meet current challenges and drive efficiency. More

Navigating the Digital Transformation

Courtney Dunbar, Site Selection & Economic Development Leader, Burns & McDonnell and Matt Olson, Chief Innovation Officer, Burns & McDonnell (Q1 2024)

Courtney Dunbar, site selection lead at Burns & McDonnell, recently asked Matt Olson, Burns & McDonnell’s chief innovation officer, about how companies are navigating the digital transformation and its potential of fostering sustainable, resilient manufacturing practices. More

In Focus: Rethinking Industrial Site Selection: A Retail Perspective

Evan L. Stair, Managing Director, Analytics, Vista Site Selection (Q1 2024)

The idea of putting the needs of the potential workforce first when making the location decision mirrors retail’s tradition of prioritizing customer satisfaction. More

Applied Learning Fuels Investment in Workforce Training Facilities

Brent Amos, Principal, Cooper Carry and Mark Jensen, Cooper Carry (Q1 2024)

With tailwinds such as government incentives and changing vocational preferences, workforce training facilities are poised for continued growth throughout the U.S. More

Editor’s Note: The Worker Shortage - A New Reality

Geraldine Gambale, Editor, Area Development Magazine (Q4 2023)

With a worker shortage that seems destined to persist, employers are turning to AI/automation and upskilling, while also realizing that comprehensive immigration reform is necessary to fill gaps in the labor force. More

Elite Workforce, Strategic Investments Help Virginia Score Major Wins

Virginia Economic Development Partnership (Q4 2023)

From data centers to vertical farming to banking, a cross-section of industry is continuing to choose to locate and expand in Virginia, a state that provides them with a top-notch workforce. More

Clustering Distribution Near Manufacturing Operations: An Old Idea Gaining New Traction

Bruce Herbert, Strategic Advisor, TMX Transform (Q4 2023)

Real estate, labor, and transportation needs must be considered by companies considering a clustering strategy if they are to reap its full benefits. More

Three Key Location Factors for F&B Industrial Users to Consider

Bob West, Vice President of Food & Beverage, Industrial, Ryan Companies (Q4 2023)

Workforce skills and availability, the need for speed to market, and the condition of existing infrastructure are all key factors in food and beverage companies’ location decisions. More

The Importance of Understanding Labor Issues in Making the Location Decision

Michael J. Ball, Partner, Vorys and Michael C. Griffaton, Of Counsel, Vorys (Workforce Q4 2023)

Site selectors should assess a potential location’s workforce with an eye to identifying areas of concern that might make it open to unionization efforts. More

Look Beyond the Now When Considering Workforce Priorities

Kevin Major, Managing Director, Americas Consulting, Labor Analytics, CBRE (Workforce Q4 2023)

Industrial site selectors must consider not only a prospective location’s current labor pool but also its recruiting reach and unanticipated future demands and costs of a particular market. More

Immigration: A Potential Fix for Labor Shortages?

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Workforce Q4 2023)

Reforms to U.S. immigration policy may help to supply more of the workers needed by companies that might otherwise choose to locate in other countries. More

Insights on Staffing and the Location Decision

Christine Chandler, President, AdvantaStaff and Lovora Brown, Director of Operations, AdvantaStaff (Workforce Q4 2023)

When selecting a new site, companies today confront an ever-changing landscape of factors to consider, from site and facility planning to workforce analytics and training. Christine Chandler, president of AdvantaStaff, and Lovora Brown, AdvantaStaff’s director of Operations, who bring a combined 50 years’ experience in the manufacturing and distribution industry, provide their perspective on workforce issues that are important to companies’ location decisions. More

After the Ribbon Is Cut: Shifting the Talent Strategy to Retention & Upskilling

Vince Giovannini, Senior Consultant, Deloitte Consulting LLP (Workforce Q4 2023)

By upskilling its workforce, a company can improve its overall productivity, while positively impacting employee satisfaction and retention. More

Technology’s Influence on Workforce Development

Steve Carlos, Senior Director, Consulting, JLL and Amber Schiada, Head of Work Dynamics Research, Americas, JLL (Workforce Q4 2023)

How can a company develop an analytics-focused talent strategy to meet the needs of AI, specialized skillsets, automation, and beyond? More

How to Factor in Labor Needs While Selecting a Site for Expansion

Sam Moses, Mark Simmons, and Azad Khan; Business Expansion and Location Solutions Team; Parker Poe (Workforce Q4 2023)

With today’s low unemployment rates, companies must consider how they will fulfill their workforce needs early on in the site selection process. More

2023 Top States Workforce Development Programs

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q3 2023)

Having a workforce with the right skills is an integral part of being a Top State for Doing Business — that’s why training programs are so important. More

Front Line: Satisfying the Semiconductor Industry’s Workforce Needs

Dan Emerson, Staff Editor, Area Development (Q3 2023)

As the semiconductor industry announces plans to grow domestic production, it is facing a workforce shortage. More

Think Outside the Box with Your Workforce Solutions

Dianne Jones, Managing Director, Business and Economic Incentives, JLL (Q3 2023)

Today’s employees want to maintain their quality of life, including hybrid work, well-being support, and competitive pay; employers need to creatively meet their needs in order to keep them from jumping ship. More

Reviewing the Turbulent Ride, as Aerospace Looks Optimistically Ahead

Liesel Schmader, Senior Consultant, Deloitte and Alex Dunlap, Senior Consultant, Deloitte (2023 Auto/Aero Site Guide)

As aerospace companies continue to rebound and evolve, they need to establish their unique goals in order to make an informed and data-driven location decision. More

First Person: Labor Crunch in the Construction Industry

Joseph Natarelli, National Leader, Construction Services, Marcum LLP (Q2 2023)

The construction industry continues to face a skilled labor shortage, with worker scarcity worsening since the beginning of the pandemic. With this in mind, Area Development’s staff editor Lisa Bastian asked Joseph Natarelli, Marcum’s National Construction Leader, to share his perspective on this issue. More

Responding to the New Reality: Robots Vs. Humans

Katie Culp, CEO, KSM Location Advisors (Q2 2023)

As companies weigh the benefits and challenges of increasing automation, local leaders must also evolve their incentives programs. More

Capitalizing on Washington, DC’s Economic Opportunities

Washington DC Economic Partnership (Q2 2023)

Companies looking to expand their operations will find the talent, funding, and support they need in the DC region. More

In Focus: Today’s Investments Inspiring Tomorrow’s Skilled Workforce Leaders

Alison Neuman, North America Workforce Development Program Manager , Johnson Controls (Q2 2023)

Investment in workforce training initiatives is essential not only to individual businesses but also to economic development on a local and national scale. More

Key Steps to Satisfying Workforce Needs

Andi Brownwell, Managing Director, Maxis Advisors (Q2 2023)

Businesses can fulfill their labor requirements by creating a positive company culture where employees are not only well compensated but also provided with training and growth opportunities. More

Is a Flurry of Fads Shaping Economic Development Policy?

Ben Worrell , Principal, McGuire Sponsel (Q2 2023)

Chasing the latest flurry of fads may not help business leaders or the communities in which they locate achieve long-term success. More

Nearshoring — North America’s Next Factory

Maribel Gaytán, Strategic Consultant, Cushman & Wakefield (Q2 2023)

Its strong maquiladora program, skilled labor, and favorable geographic location have made Mexico a top choice for nearshoring to the U.S. market. More

Raising Local Labor Force Participation

Louise Anderson, Director of Research, International Economic Development Council (Q2 2023)

In an attempt to help businesses find the workers they need, economic development organizations are working with community partners to reduce barriers to work through a mix of strategies. More

The Value of Job Ads Data in the Location Decision

Greg Chmura, Chief Quality Office, Chmura Economics (Q1 2023)

Non-traditional data aggregated from job ads contain a plethora of insights for assessing a possible location. More

How Are Economic Developers Partnering to Solve Workforce Challenges?

Louise Anderson, Director of Research, International Economic Development Council (Q1 2023)

Companies can expect to find help from forward-thinking economic development organizations in fulfilling their labor force requirements. More

The Great Migration of Workers

Ben Worrell , Principal, McGuire Sponsel (Workforce Q4 2022)

Companies must understand how a shift in workforce development and remote work will impact their location decisions. More

Exclusive Research