Belvidere Workforce

Belvidere-Boone County has the Workforce You’re Looking For!

Labor Market Charecteristics

Rockford MSA

Boone County
Primary Labor Force 164,192 25,865
Total Employment 153,099 24,133
Unemployed

11,093

1,732

Unemployment Rate

6.8 6.7

Source: Illinois Department of Employment Security, August 2022

Boone County is part of the Rockford Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a primary labor force of more than 164,000 The region’s secondary labor shed extends even farther, with 500,000+ workers within a 30 mile radius.

Boone County’s strategic location between Rockford and the Chicago region allows employers to pull from a diverse labor force.

Boone County is a manufacturing center, with more than 35% of jobs in manufacturing. There are approximately 6,000 working in the manufacturing sector in Boone County, according to Census 2020 data. Boone County boasts a strong concentration of transportation equipment manufacturing, making its labor force suitable for a variety of advanced manufacturing operations. 

 

Existing employers noted “the great work ethic and labor pool here” in the FCG analysis. Some other comments from employers about labor availability and quality include:

“Highly experienced management and supervisors.”

“Rockford has a great skill base and a great work ethic and even has diversity!”

“It is a great place to do business, airport is great, and it is a central location with great employees and definitely many educational opportunities.”

“People in the Rockford area know how to work!” 


The Workforce Connection

Services available free of charge at The Workforce Connection offices in Rockford, Belvidere and Freeport include: computer and internet access job search and resume assistance the latest local and national job listings help with on-line job applications career information, including Career Cruising access to copy and fax machines, telephone and printer information about job training