According the U.S. Labor Department if you're in nursing in Illinois, it pays more to work in Peoria. 

A story in the Chicago Sun-Times reports, of the state's nine metro areas, the Peoria Metro had the second highest salaries for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, with an average of $20.49.  Chicago was number one with an average salary of $21.53.  The national salary average is $19.28.

Vickie Clark, COO of The Economic Development Council for Central Illinois says this news provides the Peoria Metro with a competitive advantage over other regions.  “This gives us an edge in attracting a top notch work force for the healthcare industry.  We compete directly with Champaign and Springfield and this puts us one step ahead of them.”

Healthcare is the fastest growing industry in the Peoria Metro.  Bradley University Economist, Dr. Joshua Lewer, said “Our region has a 50% greater impact from healthcare than the typical regional economy which bodes well for us as healthcare is projected to grow from 16% of the GDP to 20% of the GDP.”  Healthcare sectors have increased over twice as fast as the rest of the economy from 1999-2008 and wages have increased nearly twice as fast as the national U.S. labor market.  Here in the Peoria Metro, healthcare related employment has increased from 15% of total employment in 1990 to over 17% in 2007.  In 2008, healthcare related fields were attributed with making over 500,000 jobs nationwide. 

Jim McConoughey, President and CEO of The Heartland Partnership says this is the perfect example of why those who are searching for work should consider retraining, retooling and diversifying their skillsets.  “You may not currently have the skillset required for the healthcare field, but with this type of industry growth you may want to look into diversifying yourself.”