The State of Iowa wants to know what makes the City of Perry tick, and to that end several entities are partnering to perform a “Laborshed Study” of employers and residents.

The City is joining Perry Economic Development, Iowa Workforce Development, and Iowa Economic Development Authority to complete the employment survey for the area. The study will define which communities contribute to Perry’s workforce, while also discovering the amount of residents who leave the City for work. The purpose of the project is to measure the availability and characteristics of workers in the Perry area. The results will be utilized by economic development teams and existing or prospective employers to understand the local labor market, make informed expansion and site selection decisions, and grow the workforce.

In order to conduct the study, those involved will send letters to employers in Perry asking for information on their employees’ residential ZIP codes. Also, in the coming weeks, Perry residents will receive a mailed letter directing them to a confidential online survey. Residents will be asked about their employment status, current and desired wages and benefits, education level, and type of occupation. Iowa Workforce Development emphasizes that the surveys will be completely anonymous and will only be used for the purpose of the laborshed study.

Anyone with questions is encouraged to reach out to Project Coordinator Katie Lippold at 515-281-3035, or Perry Community and Economic Development Director Mike Fastenau at 515-465-2481.