ELKHART — Regional economic development organizations are going to be taking a closer look at one of the conundrums that has sprouted from the economic recovery — employers are having trouble finding workers even though the unemployment rate remains high.

Under the direction of the Corporate Partnership for Economic Growth, the regional work force initiative has set the goal of developing a strategy to fill exiting positions as well as develop ways to attract new talent to the area.

The initiative has three important goals: filling existing positions, assessing emerging industries and developing a complete workforce plan through 2020, according to Shawn Peterson, CPEG president and CEO.

“We believe the time is right to look at our challenges and opportunities for work force development and talent attraction as a region – not just by county or by industry,” Peterson stated in a press release.

The Indianapolis-based consulting firm Thomas P. Miller and Associates has developed a work force survey to quantify the number of open positions, assess the skills gap and identify barriers to company growth as it relates to labor issues.

In addition, the survey will examine the barriers to attracting and retaining talented young professionals.

“There is no issue more important to our local economic development efforts than a quality work force,” stated Jeff Rea, president of the St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce. “Our manufacturers believe that finding the quality work force will help them grow and expand.”

The work force initiative is a regional effort encompassing Elkhart, St. Joseph, Kosciusko, Fulton and Marshall counties. Working with CPEG are the Economic Development Corp. of Elkhart County, Fulton Economic Development Organization, Kosciusko Economic Development Corp., Marshall County Economic Development Corp. and the St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce.

“Work force is critical for the success of economic development,” stated Dorinda Heiden-Guss, president of the Economic Development Corp. of Elkhart County. “Our region needs to deliver results on these work force issues.”

Any employer in the five-county region who wants to participate in the work force survey, please visit http://www.formstack.com/forms/?1244902-Kfnmz75ZPy. Community organizations interested in joining the effort should contact CPEG at info@cpeg.org.

The Corporate Partnership for Economic Growth is a coalition of regional business leaders who want to develop and leverage regional assets that will spur long-term growth and prosperity in north central Indiana.