Peoria is, for many residents, the perfect combination between city and country life. It has all of the advantages of living among three hundred thousand other people but seems to have a calmness and serenity that you cannot find even in many mid-sized cities. The economy of Peoria reflects this contrast as well. The city is a major center for livestock and grain production as well as a matrix of manufacturing plants, business services and retail locations. You could be working to design PCB prototyping and be minutes away from a farming operation.

In terms of the production and sale of both livestock and farmed products, Peoria and its surrounding area is the leader in the nation. While you would go to New York or Chicago to deal in gold bullion, you come here to work with corn, soybeans, or work in the coalmines. The coal reserves in the area are estimated to last at least another one hundred and fifty years and are shipped worldwide. This energy source is used for everything from heating buildings to helping to run factories that make lead products overseas.

Peoria is even home to the National Center for Agriculture Research, which is operated by the federal Department of Agriculture. A large range of testing and research is performed at this location, from biotechnical research to projects meant to help those working in the private sector.

Manufacturing is also big business in Peoria. There are over two hundred companies working on making over a thousand consumer or industrial products. Peoria is the national headquarters of both Caterpillar Inc. and Komatsu Mining Systems, which are two of the largest earth-moving equipment companies in the country. The city is also a leader in internal combustion engines, is the home of the world headquarters of Maui Jim Sunglasses, and has a number of distilleries but everything from food to lead castings are made in the metropolitan area.

There are lots of opportunities for the more business minded in Peoria as well. The city has the national headquarters of Clifton Gunderson LLP, which is one of the largest consulting and accounting firms in the nation. RLI Corp. Insurance and the credit union CEFCU also have main offices or headquarters in the city. Whether you're just out of school and looking for an entry-level position or in the market for that job with the corner office, there are many possibilities in Peoria.

The bottom line is, no matter whether this will be your first time working in your chosen industry or have a resume of years of experience at a London auto body shop there is a job for you in Peoria. All you have to go is use the city's resources to help you find it.