One Dearborn partnered with Purdue University Dauch Center for the Management of Manufacturing Enterprises to conduct the survey.

(Southeast Indiana) – Nine out of 10 area employers have either maintained employment levels or added jobs in the past year, according to the first ever Southeast Indiana Regional Wage & Benefits Survey.

One Dearborn partnered with the Purdue University Dauch Center for the Management of Manufacturing Enterprises to conduct the survey of employers in the region in November 2023. Students assisted in the wage survey development and data analysis. Also contributing were Ripley County Economic Development Corporation, Franklin County Economic Development Commission, City of Batesville Economic Development Commission, and REDI Cincinnati.

Twenty-six companies across Dearborn, Ripley, and Franklin counties responded to the survey. Key findings included:

• 36% of companies increased their number of jobs while another 54% maintained stable employment levels in the past year. Only 11% experienced a decrease in employment.
• 80% reported difficulties in recruitment, citing factors such as lack of experience, heavy workloads, and a shortage of skilled trades.
• 71% had job openings currently needing filled.
• 86% had few to no employees working remotely one or more days per week.

“Wage and benefit surveys such as this help employers understand how their employee compensation may make them more competitive in today’s challenging labor market,” said One Dearborn Executive Director Mike Perleberg. “This knowledge may have the added benefit of improving compensation levels for our region’s residents.”

The full survey report — including wage data for specific job types and benefit offerings — is only made available to employers which provided their data. Employers who would like to participate in and receive the next regional wage and benefits survey may contact One Dearborn. Responses are kept confidential and the data is only reported in aggregate.

For more information on One Dearborn or to view the Dearborn County Regional Economic Development Plan, visit www.1dearborn.org/reports.