(AP) — State officials are going to study the workforce in northeast Nebraska, northwest Iowa and southeast South Dakota to learn more about what it will take to attract new businesses to the area.

The Nebraska Departments of Labor and Economic Development will conduct the study in late October and early November. The effort will identify the skills of local workers and other key economic factors.

The study will focus on Columbus, Fremont, Norfolk, South Sioux City, Wayne, and West Point, as well as northwestern Iowa and southern South Dakota.

The findings of the study will be released next spring.