Jobs and the Economy
The region where work and home are both close
Greater Peoria's economy runs on healthcare, manufacturing, and education, anchored by homegrown institutions that have kept the region stable for generations. If you are moving for a job, the commute math is short, and if you are moving with a career, the picture is worth understanding. Headcounts below are approximate, from public employer reports from 2022 to 2024.
The region's largest employers
Healthcare is now the region's biggest employment sector, followed by manufacturing. These are the employers that anchor the five-county economy, with approximate headcounts from public reports.
~13,500 regional
OSF HealthCare
Healthcare system headquartered in Peoria; the region’s largest employer.
~12,000 regional
Caterpillar Inc.
Major regional facilities in East Peoria, Morton, Mossville, and Mapleton, plus the technical center.
~5,000 regional
UnityPoint Health (Methodist)
A second major hospital system in the five-county region.
~2,700 regional
Peoria Public Schools
The largest K-12 district in the region.
~1,800 regional
Illinois Central College
Community college with its main campus in East Peoria.
~1,300 regional
Bradley University
Private university in Peoria known for engineering and business.
~1,000+ regional
Advanced Technology Services
Industrial maintenance and technology services headquartered in Peoria.
And more
A wide base
Two hundred-plus manufacturers, distribution and logistics firms, banks, and small businesses fill in the middle of the market across the metro.
Approximate headcounts from public employer reports (Greater Peoria EDC, Peoria Journal Star, 2022–2024). Figures vary by year.
What the job market means for movers
Healthcare is the biggest draw
OSF and UnityPoint together anchor tens of thousands of jobs, from clinicians to administration to IT. Medical families relocating into the region usually find work fast, and both systems have a real presence across the metro.
Manufacturing and engineering endure
Caterpillar's world headquarters moved to the Chicago area in 2017, but thousands of engineering, testing, and manufacturing jobs remain in East Peoria, Morton, Mossville, and Mapleton. The technical center alone employs roughly three thousand engineers.
Remote work lives comfortably here
Central Time works with both coasts, and high-speed internet is widely available from providers including Xfinity, AT&T, and others, with fiber in the suburbs. Remote workers from either coast can keep their salary and spend it on a Peoria mortgage.
Commutes stay short
The biggest employers are spread across the region, which is exactly why the 10- to 30-minute commute holds up from every community in this guide. Few things beat living in a town you can see from your office window.
Your Move Matters
Moving for a job? Let's match the town to it.
Tell Teri where you will work and how far you are willing to drive. She will point you to the communities that keep the commute short and the schools strong.