Greater Sterling’s high-skilled and affordable labor force is over 340,000 strong, with nearly 50,000 of those employed in manufacturing – the region’s largest industry. Our labor/benefits costs are lower than the US, Illinois, and Chicago averages.
The Greater Sterling Area's workforce pipeline offers employers access to an a variety of four-year, two-year, and other credentialed talent.
Your purchasing power is strong here, where the cost of living is 20% lower than Illinois and 11% lower than the US average.
Our rapid manufacturing industry growth over the last five years is just one testament to Greater Sterling's Midwestern work ethic.
Highways, rail, water, and airports – Sterling is within two hours of many north/south and east/west routes. Interstate 88 and Union Pacific Railroad are your gateways to Chicago, the Quad Cities, Milwaukee, Peoria, Cedar Rapids, and many more major markets within close proximity.
Interstate 88 intersects Sterling and connects you directly to three more major interstates.
Within a day's truck drive of Ford’s BlueOval City in Tennessee.
Greater Sterling, Illinois, sits near the heart of the Midwest market.
Interstate 88 intersects Sterling and connects you directly to three more major interstates.
Within a day's truck drive of Ford’s BlueOval City in Tennessee.
Greater Sterling, Illinois, sits near the heart of the Midwest market.
66.5 x
more employed in aluminum-related manufacturing than the U.S. average
20%
lower cost of living than the average for the state of Illinois
69%
growth in transportation occupations in the next five years