36th Annual Survey of Corporate Executives Commentary: Labor Costs and Availability Go Hand in Hand
The pandemic shook up what workers want and expect from a job.
Q1 2022
The most interesting result on the combined ratings of factors, would be the top two of labor costs and availability of skilled labor. To me, those go “hand in hand.” A recent jobs report shows an increase in the numbers of workers returning to work, but payroll sums are still more than five million shy of pre-pandemic levels. The pandemic shook up what workers want and expect from a job.
Lastly, the most overlooked site selection factor would be quality of life (tied for 11th). This will continue to rise, as it not just about what to do in the region, but other factors to look at are healthcare availability and affordability, educational institutions, infrastructure, crime and corrections, and the natural environment. Quality of life may have a minimal impact early in the site selection process, but a major impact in the final short-list stage.
Recent Project Announcements
Traxion Materials Expands Jacksboro, Tennessee, Production Operations
08/10/2026
Italy-Based Bertagni 1882 Plans St. Charles, Missouri, Operations
08/10/2026
Artisans Establishes Lexington, Kentucky, Manufacturing Operations
08/10/2026
Virginia Steel and Fabrication Expands Bland County, Virginia, Operations
08/10/2026
STERIS Plans Sanford, North Carolina, Manufacturing Operations
08/07/2026
Taiwan-Based MedVoyage Global Plans Fairfax City, Virginia, Headquarters Operations
08/07/2026
Kimberly-Clark Corporation Plans Yuma, Arizona, Operations
08/07/2026
DRC Industries Expands Columbus, Mississippi, Production Operations
08/05/2026
Epsilon Industries Expands Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Production Operations
08/05/2026
Qualis Engineered Plastics Plans Evansville, Indiana, Manufacturing Operations
08/05/2026
Swiss-Based Medacta International Plans Spring Hill, Tennessee, Operations
08/05/2026
James & James Plans Heber Springs, Arkansas, Manufacturing Operations
08/05/2026
GE Vernova Expands Findlay-Rostraver, Pennsylvania, Manufacturing Operations
08/05/2026
Wenger Group Plans New Oxford, Pennsylvania, Operations
08/03/2026
Most Read
-
Rethinking Environmental Review
Q2 2026
-
The RFI Is No Longer the Starting Line
Q3 2026
-
21st Annual Shovel Awards: The American Industrial Economy Remade in Real Time
Q2 2026
-
Where Early-Stage Life Sciences Companies Get Stuck Scaling Their Real Estate—and How to Move Forward
Q2 2026
-
Avoid These Red Flags, Deal Killers, and Blunders in Site Selection
Q2 2026
-
The Primary Problem
Q3 2026
-
Why America's Largest Companies Are Investing in Skilled Trades
Q2 2026