YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Lake to River Economic Development is asking employers across Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties to participate in a comprehensive wage and benefit survey designed to provide a clearer picture of local compensation trends for the region’s businesses.
The survey will seek detailed, position-level data on wages, salaries and benefit offerings from employers throughout the four-county region, according to a news release issued Monday. Categories covered will include base pay, bonus and incentive structures, health and retirement benefits, paid time off, and remote work policies.
The objective is to provide participants with a tool grounded in local market realities rather than statewide or national averages that often miss the nuances of Eastern Ohio’s economy, Lake to River officials said.
“Reliable, region-specific wage and benefit data is one of the most useful tools we can put in front of employers across our four counties, because it equips them to make the talent decisions that fuel growth here,” Dani Robbins, CEO of Lake to River, said. “Helping our employers compete for and keep the workers they need is core economic development work, and this survey delivers data they cannot get anywhere else.”
Employers that participate in the 20- to 30-minute survey will receive a complete report of the findings at no cost. The report will include benchmarking data by job category, industry and county, giving participants an actionable resource for talent decisions ranging from new hire offers to retention planning to benefits package design. An executive-level summary of results will be made public in September.
Companies with 10 or more employees in manufacturing, logistics and distribution, aerospace and defense, technology, health care and professional services are especially encouraged to participate, though responses from other employers are welcome.
Participation is open to employers of all sizes and industries in the four-county region. The survey is confidential, and individual company responses will not be shared or attributed. Lake to River is asking employers to submit responses by Aug. 25.
Visit laketoriverohio.org/wage-benefits-survey for multiple ways to access the survey. Contact Michelle Phillips, Lake to River research director, at michelle@laketoriverohio.orgwith any questions.
About Lake to River
Lake to River is the regional JobsOhio network partner for Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties. The organization works to attract new business, expand existing industry and develop talent pipelines in support of economic growth across Eastern Ohio. For more information, visit laketoriverohio.org.