Manufacturing - Central Illinois? (Peoria, Bloomington: jobs, housing, university)

[Dukester]

Looking at McLean & Peoria Counties in particular. I live in Washington State now looking to return to Central Illinois. Am original from Normal but have been away for close to 10 years.... How is the job market back there now?

Thanks,
Dave

[linicx]

The job maket is a broad category. Are you taking about emplyment for yourself, or are you talking about bringing a new product to the area? If you are looking for a job in manufacturing then that depends upon your qualifications. If you area highly skilled in a particular area, then it would probably be wise to submit your resume now. In either case taxes and housing are more reasonable in Peoria. If you are talking about starting a new busines I have other suggestions that might be appealing.

[PtownGuy]

Well depends on what you are looking for, but generally the job market in McClean & Peoria counties is still pretty good. Bloomington-Normal is a better place to go if you're looking for White Colar work (think State Farm, Country Ins., Illinois State University). Peoria is a better place if you're looking for blue collar work (think Caterpillar, ADM). I know in Peoria, Caterpillar is doing well and having a hard time getting enough factory workers (especially welders). However, they also don't pay their factory workers what they used to. State Farm isn't hiring as many people these days, but is still doing pretty well. As always, in our ever increasing service based economy, there's plenty of service jobs in either place.

[Dukester]

Thank you for the replies.... I am not a professional by any stretch of the imagination. I have experience in managing store/parts rooms, chasing parts and purchasing of parts. I have backgrounds in automated type manufacturing purchasing e.g. bearings, sprockets, sheaves, belts, pulleys, a long with OEM like parts, Where I live now manufacturing is very light at best and if they do exist usually are made up of small companies. I would be bringing my dog back with me of course if I do decide to make the move. I also I would move this early summer say June. What I feel would be the biggest hurdle more so than finding a job would be finding a place to live from where I live now which is roughly 2200 miles away.

Dave

[runninfiend]

There are plenty places around here. With Cat being in the Peoria area, there are also lots of shops that do contract work locally that I'm sure hire parts guys.

Places like Parson's, Morton Metalcraft, Miller Welding, etc. all hire on a pretty consistent basis. It might be easier to get on here than it would at Cat.

I'm sure there are many others.