Corporate Executive Survey Commentary: Integrating Advanced Technology Into the Site Selection Process
Although training programs and technical colleges are viewed as important, many companies look to find the workforce skills they require readily available in their chosen locations.
Q1 2016
The integration of advanced technology into the site selection process leads to the question, is a community’s workforce keeping up with advanced skills necessary to meet the evolving talent demands of current and future workforces? Capital investment demands of technology also necessitate a strong confidence in the area workforce’s ability to support the facility. The presence of a feeder system, including industry clusters and universities, may ensure a skilled workforce is achievable in the location.
Training programs and the availability of technical colleges in a community are generally viewed as important factors in the survey, but not necessarily very important factors. Companies requiring higher-skilled workforces expect to find those skills readily available in the community as opposed to developing skills via training. [Nonetheless], many state and local governments offer excellent training initiatives that address any gaps between a company’s labor needs and what’s available in local workforce.
Finally, [of those survey respondents planning new domestic facilities], 69 percent plan to open them within two years. This is good news! The survey also reveals approximately half of the new facilities will be manufacturing and/or warehouse-distribution, and more than half (61 percent) of new domestic facilities will create less than 50 new jobs.
Project Announcements
United Arab Emirates-Based Hotpack Plans Edison, New Jersey, Manufacturing Operations
05/12/2025
SSAB Expands Axis, Alabama, Production Operations
05/12/2025
Carnival Corporation Plans Miami, Florida, Headquarters Operations
05/12/2025
Merck Animal Health Expands De Soto, Kansas, Manufacturing Operations
05/12/2025
Oxford Technologies Plans Bay County, Florida, Manufacturing Operations
05/12/2025
PPG Plans Shelby, North Carolina, Manufacturing Operations
05/12/2025
Most Read
-
Run a Job Task Analysis
Q4 2024
-
39th Annual Corporate & 21st Annual Consultants Surveys: What Business Leaders and Consultants Are Saying About Site Selection
Q1 2025
-
The Location Economics of Advanced Nuclear
Q1 2025
-
Why Workforce Readiness Can’t Wait
Q1 2025
-
Is It Time to Start Planning for Quantum Data Centers?
Q1 2025
-
Top States for Doing Business in 2024: A Continued Legacy of Excellence
Q3 2024
-
Navigating the new era of SCIF construction
Q1 2025