With scant time and resources for recruiting and training workers, companies are looking at states that will help them to quickly satisfy their labor force needs. 

 

Labor is almost always the number-one priority for every major site selection decision. Many consultants start the screening process for their clients by defining work force density within geographic regions - this is especially important for larger projects of 500 employees or more. Once a potential pool of reliable and productive workers is identified, the next major consideration is the ability of the state or region to help recruit and train the work force. 

"Some companies have strong internal training resources," says Buzz Canup, founder of Canup and Associates in Greenville, S.C. "However, many businesses are very lean today when it comes to designing, developing, and implementing their own training programs and rely on outside assistance."

Most site selection consultants would agree that only a handful of states do an outstanding job at work force training and development. Many of these programs are in the South, including Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and North and South Carolina, and serve as models for other states.

  

"These programs work so well because the states individualize training initiatives to meet the needs of companies," comments Larry Gigerich, managing director for Ginovus in Indianapolis. "The states design and deliver the curriculum to new employees, based upon the specific needs of the company. These states also have the ability to provide physical space for training activities, as well as training manuals for use on an ongoing basis. There is also a strong emphasis on meeting the certifications and credentials that companies require for their employees."