Chmura Unveils New Housing Demand Analytic to Help Communities Plan for Workforce Growth

[RICHMOND, VA] – Chmura Economics & Analytics has launched the Housing Demand Analytic, a powerful, new tool within the JobsEQ® platform designed to help economic developers, site selectors, and commercial real estate professionals forecast housing demand generated by new and expanding businesses. With its ability to project housing needs tied to such an event, this analytic helps communities to plan for future growth as they attract new investments and job opportunities.

Data-Driven Housing Demand Insights

The Housing Demand Analytic was developed out of the Chmura consulting team’s research into the increasing relevance of housing availability and affordability questions in site selection and business expansion considerations. Communities need a way to determine how many new workers might relocate to the region and their likely housing needs. The success of this model in helping some local planners has led Chmura to offer the tool to a broader audience as an add-on to its suite of data products.

“Businesses often bring rapid growth, and housing is an important factor in location decisions,” said Dr. Chris Chmura, CEO of Chmura Economics & Analytics. “With this tool, site selectors and economic developers can better anticipate housing needs, ensuring their communities are prepared for sustainable expansion.”

Forecast Housing Needs by Earnings

Paired with JobsEQ’s custom regions function, the Housing Demand Analytic allows users to explore housing needs within specific drive times or distances of a proposed business location. To account for different household situations, the tool provides a breakdown of forecasted need by housing cost for both renters and buyers aligned with expected earnings. The tool also helps assess how much labor can be sourced locally versus how much may need to migrate in, providing industry-specific insights to guide planning.

“This analytic was initially designed for a specific project, but with consistent, observed demand for similar projects its value quickly became clear,” said Leslie Peterson, President and Chief Strategy Officer at Chmura Economics & Analytics. “It’s flexible, providing data-driven forecasts for housing demand that communities can use to plan smarter.”

A Key Piece of the Attraction and Expansion Equation 

Combined with JobsEQ’s What-If and LaborEQ tools, which offer insights into expected payroll, cost of living, and detailed labor availability, the new Housing Demand Analytic provides one more critical piece of any site selection or economic development opportunity by addressing the specific housing need created by new or expanding firms.

About Chmura Economics and Analytics

Chmura Economics and Analytics is a leading provider of economic research, analytics, and forecasting solutions for businesses, policymakers, and organizations worldwide. With a proven history of excellence spanning 25 years, the company delivers actionable insights and innovative data solutions that drive informed decision-making and fuel economic growth. For more information, visit www.chmura.com. 

Media Contact

Lindsay Day   
Public Relations & Communication Manager  
Chmura Economics and Analytics  
Phone: 804-516-4807 
Email: lindsay.day@chmura.com