Research Matters – C2ER/LMI Institute July 30, 2026

Research Matters - Bi-Weekly Update

July 30, 2026 | Diana Romero

July 30, 2026

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Features

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Your City Could Be the Next Conference Destination.

Host Nominations Now Open!

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The 68th C2ER + LMI Institute Annual Conference in 2028 needs a host city. Could yours be the one? Share what makes your region stand out.

The C2ER Executive Committee reviews all submissions and evaluates prospective host locations based on established criteria before recommending a final conference site.

Put your city forward and help shape the 2028 conference experience.

Learn more about hosting requirements and submit your nomination using the buttons below.

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Applications are due by October 2, 2027.

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Conference Hosting Criteria

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Be Part of the Momentum:

C2ER Committees Are Forming!

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It’s time!! C2ER’s 2026–2027 committees are forming, and we want YOU in the mix. This is your chance to collaborate with peers, bring fresh ideas to the table, and help steer the organization’s next chapter.

Your commitment? Just one virtual meeting per quarter.

Easy, flexible, and genuinely impactful.

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Pick the space where you want to shine:

Marketing & Member Experience: Reimagine how we connect with members and elevate our storytelling.
Professional Development & Training: Shape the workshops, courses, and skill‑building opportunities our community relies on.
Regional & State Chapter Networks: Strengthen local connections and help grow our national research community.
Product Development: Offer insight on current tools and help spark ideas for new ones.
Annual Conference: Join the team behind C2ER’s biggest event of the year.

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Sign‑up deadline: August 14, 2026

Let’s build something great together. Are you in?

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News & Reports

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Headlines

Bureau of Labor Statistics – Eating the Cost: Food Prices and the COVID-19 Pandemic
Bureau of Labor Statistics – FY 2027 Congressional Budget Justification
Census Bureau – Higher Education Consortium: Transforming Collaboration Between the U.S. Census Bureau and Higher Education
Economic Innovation Group – The Big Exceptions to the American Manufacturing Jobs Decline
FedScoop – Labor Seeks Public Feedback Ahead of Nationwide AI Survey Launch
LinkedIn – Cities on the Rise 2026: The 25 Fastest-Growing U.S. Metros for Jobs and New Talent
Route Fifty – How California Can Turn Workforce Data Into Actionable Steps

Reports – From Our Members

W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research – Incentives for Most Clean-Energy Projects Yield Positive Economic Return

Reports – Non-members

Bureau of Labor Statistics – State Employment and Unemployment: June 2026
Bureau of Labor Statistics – Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers Second Quarter 2026
Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Employment & Training – 2025 LEO-E&T Annual Report
National Skills Coalition – From Workforce Shortages to Training Solutions: How Workforce Pell Can Align Skills with Industry Demand
United Nations – World Population Highlights 2026: Youth
Upwork – The Future Workforce Index 2026: AI, Freelancing, and the New Value of Work
Urban Institute – Evaluating How LLMs Handle Education and Workforce Pathway Data

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Have a report you’d like to share?

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ICYMI

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Business Xpansion – June/July 2026 Issue
Gallup – U.S. Workers Continue to Report Downsizing

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Data Visualization

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Mapped: The States Driving America’s Economic Growth

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Careers

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Have an open position that might be of interest to C2ER members?

Let us post your job listing!

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Send the position title, description, and any other relevant information to Jennifer Gual.

Jobs are typically posted within 1 business day and postings remain active for 45 days if no closing date is specified.

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Our Events

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Communicating Your Regional Economic and Workforce Impact With Data

August 4, 2026

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET

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**C2ER Member Only Webinar**

CERP Presentation: The Economic Impact of Child Care Shortages in Missouri

August 26, 2026

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET

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C2ER + LMI Institute Annual Conference

June 9 – 11, 2027

Des Moines, IA

Pre-conference training June 8

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Save the Date

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eLearning Courses

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Foundations of Economic Development Research I: Introduction to Data Sources

Any Place, Any Time

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Foundations of Economic Development Research II: Introduction to Regional Analysis Methods

Any Place, Any Time

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Basic LMI Analyst eLearning

Any Place, Any Time

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Industry Events

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State Economic Development Executives Network Webinar

Incentives Under the Microscope: Confronting Today’s Toughest Challenges

September 10, 2026

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET

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Manufacturing Institute Workforce Summit

October 26 – 28, 20026

Indianapolis, IN

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Georgia’s Workforce Conference

November 10 – 11, 2026

Athens, GA

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2026 UEDA Summit

December 2 – 4, 2026

Pensacola, FL

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