Research Studies

As a service to Northeast Ohio organizations, ERC frequently conducts research studies of the region's employers. The results of the following studies are available to be downloaded and accessed free of charge.

2008 - 2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 - 2003

2008 Studies and Reports
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Employment Value Proposition
(June 2008) - 76K PDF
The following study conducted by ERC seeks to explore how local organizations are branding the value of employment at their organization in order to attract and retain talent.

Intern Pay Rates
(March 2008) - 322K PDF
Published in May of 2008, 50 organizations submitted data regarding their intern pay rates and practices for 2008.

Succession Plans
(April 2008) - 73K PDF
The following study conducted by ERC seeks to explore succession planning practices and the methodologies and competencies organizations are using to identify their high potential employees.

Variable Pay Plans
(April 2008) - 75K PDF
The following study seeks to explore the variable pay plan phenomenon and the local trends that exist in terms of their design & administration.

Performance Management Trends
(February 2008) - 170K PDF
The following study was conducted to uncover local trends in performance management processes and systems.

HR Service Delivery Strategy
(February 2008) - 83K PDF
The following study was conducted to uncover the dynamics of how HR services are being delivered in Northeast Ohio, particularly among small and medium sized employers.

2008 HR Hot Topics
(January 2008) - 70K PDF
This quick survey conducted in January 2008 asked 38 organziations in Northeast Ohio about HR Hot Topics in 2008.

2007 Studies and Reports
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2007 ERC Online Career Center Study
(December 2007) - 364K PDF
The third Online Career Center Study conducted by ERC surveyed 3,440 websites to examine how effectively Northeast Ohio organizations use the Internet to promote their organizations as great places to work and the region as a great place to live.

ERC Research Study - FMLA
(December 2007) - 44K PDF
52 organizations participated in this research study in December, 2007. The following results summary highlights the major trends related to challenges local organizations face in administering FMLA leave.

2008 ERC Annual Paid Holiday Survey
(November 2007) - 118K PDF
This survey was conducted by ERC in October of 2007. 321 organizations participated, 176 (55%) are manufacturers and 145 (45%) are non-manufacturers. Participants were asked to report the holidays they plan to observe as either full-day or half-day, paid holidays in 2007.

ERC Research Study - PTO & Generational Differences
(September 2007) - 40K PDF
68 organizations participated in this research study in September, 2007. The following results summary highlights paid time off trends.

ERC Quick Survey - Break-in-Service Benefit Credits
(September 2007) - 35K PDF
21 organizations participated in this quick survey in September, 2007 regarding break-in-service benefit cards.

ERC Quick Survey - Union Contract Negotiations
(August 2007) - 28K PDF
This quick survey conducted in September of 2007 asked 20 organizations about their Union Contract Negotiations.

ERC Quick Survey - Public Employee Recognition
(August 2007) - 28K PDF
This quick survey conducted in August of 2007 asked 14 organizations about their Public Employee Recognition.

ERC Quick Survey - Defined Benefit Plans
(August 2007) - 28K PDF
This quick survey conducted in August of 2007 asked 41 organizations about their Defined Benefit Plans.

ERC Quick Survey - Car Allowances
(August 2007) - 28K PDF
This quick survey conducted in July of 2007 asked 32 organizations about monthly car allowances for sales, executive, and professional personnel.

ERC Quick Survey – Elder Care Responsibilities
(July 2007) - 72K PDF
This quick survey conducted in July of 2007 asked 61 organizations about how they deal with employees handling elder care responsibilities.

ERC Quick Survey – 4th of July
(June 2007) - 29K PDF
This quick survey conducted in June 2007 asked 134 organizations about employee time-off on July 4th, 2007.

ERC Quick Survey – Non-Profit Practices
(March 2007) - 34K PDF
This quick survey conducted in March 2007 asked 29 non-profit organizations about their benefits and practices.

ERC Quick Survey - The Role of HR
(January 2007) - 27K PDF
This quick survey conducted in January 2007 asked 94 organizations about the role of HR in their organization.

ERC Quick Survey - HR Hot Topics
(January 2007) - 20K PDF
This quick survey conducted in January 2007 asked 168 organziations in Northeast Ohio about HR Hot Topics in 2007.

2006 Studies and Reports
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ERC Quick Survey - Office Holiday Parties
(November 2006) - 41K PDF
According to the quick survey conducted by ERC in November 2006, regarding organizations’ plans for celebrating the upcoming holiday season, more than 85% of employers said they will be having a holiday party.

2007 ERC Annual Paid Holiday Survey
(November 2006) - 46K PDF
This survey was conducted by ERC in October of 2006. 208 organizations participated, 107 (51%) are manufacturers and 101 (49%) are non-manufacturers. Participants were asked to report the holidays they plan to observe as either full-day or half-day, paid holidays in 2007.

Northeast Ohio Poverty Rates Well Below National Average
(September 2006) - 25K PDF
The release of the 2005 American Community Survey by the United States Census Bureau has caused quite a stir in Northeast Ohio. Cleveland was ranked the poorest large city in the US for the second time in three years, edging out Detroit and Miami. As is often the case, however, it seems that only one side of the story has been told. The
challenges facing the city of Cleveland may be overshadowing better news for the Northeast Ohio region.

2006 ERC Brain Gain Study
(September 2006) - 694K PDF
A groundbreaking study conducted by ERC in the spring of 2006 that asked juniors and seniors at Northeast Ohio (NEO) colleges and universities how they are conducting their job search, what their expectations are, and what they like and dislike most about NEO. The goal of the study was to help local employers understand graduates’ expectations when entering the workforce to better enable them to attract and keep talented young people in NEO.

Department Sizes
(September 2006) - 58K PDF
In September 2006, ERC surveyed Northeast Ohio employers regarding the size of various departments at their organizations. The following report summarizes the responses of the 151 organizations that participated in the survey.

2006 Top Performer Survey
(September 2006)
This study, conducted by ERC in conjunction with the 2006 NorthCoast 99 program, asked top performers at Northeast Ohio organizations what they look for in a job and their job satisfaction. 856 Top Performers from Northeast Ohio participated in the survey.

Early Retirement Incentives
(August 2006) - 77K PDF
This follow-up survey to a study originally posted in December of 2005 asked which early retirement incentives organizations currently offer to employees and what limitations are placed on those incentives. 106 organizations participated in the survey, and of those, 6 currently offer some form of early retirement incentives.

2006-2007 ERC Wage & Salary Adjustment Survey
(July 2006)
The Annual Wage & Salary Adjustment Survey is an invaluable tool for organizations' use in budget planning and making compensation adjustments. The survey is currently closed for participation and the results will be published in early September.

Compensating Sales People
(June 2006) - 33K PDF
In this this quick survey, 13 participating Northeast Ohio organizations reported the average mix of compensation methods used to reward sales people.

Recent College Graduates Survey
(May 2006) - 101K PDF
34 Northeast Ohio organizations participated in this quick survey about recent college graduate starting salaries and how employers determine starting pay.

New Hire Turnover and Recruiting Outsourcing
(April 2006) - 41K PDF
81 Northeast Ohio employers participated in this survey that reports annual turnover rates of new hires after their first 90 days of employment.

Tuition Reimbursement for Online Courses
(April 2006) - 49K PDF
In April 2006, ERC asked Northeast Ohio employers whether or not they offered tuition reimbursement for online courses for their employees. 124 organizations participated in the poll.

Hybrid Vehicle Incentives
(March 2006) - 73K PDF
In March 2006, ERC conducted the following quick survey to see what Northeast Ohio employers are doing (if anything) to encourage their employees to purchase more environmentally friendly hybrid vehicles. 

Pay Rates for Interns
(March 2006) - 72K PDF
In March 2006, ERC surveyed Northeast Ohio employers regarding their average pay rates for interns. The following report summarizes the responses of the 74 organizations that participated in the survey.

Preventing the Flu in Your Workplace
(January 2006) - 88K PDF
In January of 2006, 154 Northeast Ohio employers answered the question, "What is your organization doing to help prevent the spread of the flu in your workplace?" Click on the title to view the entire results.

2005 Studies and Reports
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Early Retirement Incentives
(December 2005) - 77K PDF
This survey, conducted by ERC in December of 2005, inquired which early retirement incentives organizations currently offer to employees and what limitations are placed on those incentives. 130 organizations participated in the survey, and of those, 23 currently offer some form of early retirement incentives.

Employing Foreign Locals
(November 2005) - 82K PDF
This survey, conducted by ERC in November of 2005, inquired local manufacturers about how they are reaching and recruiting Northeast Ohio's rich and diverse populations of foreign locals - groups of people who have relatively recently immigrated to the United States and are eagerly seeking work in their new home country. 21 organizations participated in this survey.

2005 ERC Job Attributes Importance Survey
(September 2005)
A groundbreaking study conducted by ERC in conjunction with the 2005 NorthCoast 99 program that asked top performers at Northeast Ohio organizations what they look for a job and what motivates their performance.

2005 NorthCoast 99 Winners Summary Report
(September 2005)
The official summary report for the 2005 NorthCoast 99 winners.

2005 ERC Online Career Center Study
(September 2005)
A follow-up innovative study conducted by ERC to examine how effectively Northeast Ohio organizations use the Internet to promote their organizations as great places to work and the region as a great place to live.

Mileage Reimbursement Check-Up
(September 2005) - 77K PDF
In September of 2005, ERC conducted this brief survey in response to the sudden and significant increase in gasoline prices. Many ERC members were interested in learning if as a result, the rate at which employers reimburse their employees for mileage would be affected.

Tuition Reimbursement for Online Courses
(March 2005) - 83K PDF
In a March issue of Quick Hits, ERC members were asked to complete the following survey about tuition reimbursement policies for online courses. Twelve (12) organizations participated.

Compensating Call Center Employees
(February 2005) - 84K PDF
In a February issue of Quick Hits, ERC members were asked to complete the following survey about how their call center employees are compensated. Nine (9) organizations participated.

Emergency Shut Downs
(January 2005) - 96K PDF
ERC conducted this survey to learn how Northeast Ohio employers handle emergency shut downs with employees (whether as a result of severe weather, other "acts of god", war, etc.).

2004 Studies and Reports
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Employee Labels and Discipline Policies
(December 2004) - 87K PDF
ERC asked Northeast Ohio employers how they refer to their employees and whether or not unpaid time off is used in their disciplinary procedures.

Opting Out: What Are the Incentives?
(November 2004) - 84K PDF
ERC surveyed Northeast Ohio employers regarding the types of incentives offered to employees to opt-out of health insurance coverage.

New Year's Holiday Survey Results
(August 2004) - 83K PDF

Gas Prices Not Driving Up Reimbursement Rates
(June 2004) - 70K PDF

Employers Take Similar Approach to Weekend Holidays
(April 2004) - 82K PDF
ERC asked Northeast Ohio employers what their approach will be for the Independence Day and Christmas Holidays which fall on weekends in 2004.

Picture Not-So-Perfect - Camera Phone Survey Results
(February 2004) - 86K PDF

2004 NorthCoast 99 Summary Report
(September 2004) - 408K PDF
The official summary report for the 2004 NorthCoast 99 program.

2003 Studies and Reports
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Northeast Ohio Online Career Centers
(December 2003) - 706K PDF
A study conducted by the Employers Resource Council (ERC) to examine how effectively Northeast Ohio organizations use the Internet to promote their organizations as great places to work, and the region as a great place to live.