Labor Market Assessment 2017

This study updates and expands on the work UBRI completed in 2010 (Who’s Your Economy?), offering research for attracting new businesses, aligning workforce training with employer needs, and planning for business development. The work features new findings related to talent attraction, underemployment, and the landscape of workforce training. A suite of reports tackle the complexities of the multifaceted regional labor market.

Commissioned by Invest Buffalo Niagara, the research provides insights for a wide-range of users—from current and prospective employers, to workforce trainers, to individuals seeking employment or career advancement. The reports focus on different elements of the Buffalo Niagara labor market:

• Who’s Our Economy? – offers an overview of the region’s economy, labor force, target industries, and county comparisons
• Where Are Our Opportunities? – explores underemployment, labor availability, the landscape of workforce training, and credential building for jobs in selected industries
• What Role Does Labor Management Play? – features trends and best practices
• How Competitive Are Payroll Costs? – presents wage data and information on employee benefits

UBRI used a mixed approach to capture data not readily available, and get input from employers, workers and economic experts. This included a survey of 200+ employers, 550 residents, and dozens of workforce trainers. Research was guided by a roundtable of leaders representing labor, management, academia, and economic development. Research was supported by UBRI’s partnership with Invest Buffalo Niagara, Make Communities, The John R. Oishei Foundation Mobile Safety Net Team, and The Pathfinders.