GALESBURG — With an aging population, an ongoing pandemic and help wanted signs on every corner, finding enough workers to fill positions is a continuing problem for local businesses, schools and hospitals.
But the number of available workers in the area has been steadily declining for decades.
“In my opinion, the labor force is the number one economic issue for Galesburg and the surrounding area,” said Ken Springer, president of the Knox County Area Partnership for Economic Development. “A successful economy requires workers.”
The labor force — those age 16 or older who are employed or actively seeking employment — has declined at a much steeper rate than the population in the Galesburg Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Knox and Warren counties.
Since 2000, the area population has decreased 10% while the labor force has shrunk by more than 25% — in large part due to an aging population.
Baby boomers leaving workforce
A study by the U.S. Census Bureau shows labor participation nationwide actually increased in every other age bracket between 2010 and 2019, but the labor force is still shrinking due to baby boomers leaving the workforce.
“You are going to have retirements and you need younger workers to come in and replace that,” Springer said.
In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused distortions in the labor market that are still in flux, exacerbating existing problems.
“When there is a crisis, it accelerates all the trends that are there before the...
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