AMES, Iowa—The Ames Economic Development Commission is partnering with Iowa Workforce Development and Iowa Economic Development Authority to complete a Laborshed employment study for Boone and Story Counties. This study will geographically define which communities contribute to the Boone and Story County 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 Boone and Story County 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 Boone and Story County area for employment. For the success of this study, we will be sending letters to employers in Boone and Story County 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 www.iowalmi.gov/laborshed.

(contributed press release, Ames Chamber of Commerce)