The Peoria-area employment picture has changed in the last half decade, with corporate relocations and, most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic all shaking up the workforce. 

Here is a list of the top 20 employers in the Peoria area, as compiled by the Greater Peoria Data Hub website. It defines Greater Peoria as Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, Logan and Mason counties.

The list is based on a combination of self-reporting and data collected by the digital data firm EMSI. The numbers were pulled from the website in early May 2022 and are not meant to represent day-to-day fluctuations.

OSF HealthCare is Greater Peoria’s largest employer with roughly 13,500 employees. In the five-county region, the medical provider has facilities in Bartonville, Brimfield, Chillicothe, East Peoria, Havana, Hopedale, Metamora, Minonk, Morton, Pekin, Peoria, Roanoke, Tremont and Washington. It is headquartered in Peoria.

Peoria news: As work on new OSF HealthCare headquarters nears finale, here's how the renovations look

Caterpillar employs some 12,000 people in the region. The machinery and equipment manufacturer has area facilities in East Peoria, Edwards, Mapleton, Morton, Mossville and Peoria. Its visitors center and museum is in Peoria.

Related: A new Caterpillar video mimics an NBC show. It also highlights a need for service techs

Another medical provider, UnityPoint Health employs roughly 5,000 people in the five-county region. It has area facilities in Bartonville, Chillicothe, East Peoria, Eureka, Hopedale, Lincoln, Metamora, Morton, Pekin, Peoria, Peoria Heights, Princeville and Washington.

Expanding: Here's why UnityPoint plans to convert Heddington Oaks into behavorial health center for youth

The Peoria Public Schools district has 2,668 employees. The education system has 27 active school buildings: three high schools, a career and technical center, a credit recovery center, seven middle schools, 10 primary and three K-8 buildings, an early childhood center and a special education center.

Upcoming: Goodbye, traditional calendar: Peoria school district shortens summer break for 2023

Established in 1967, Illinois Central College employs 1,800 people in the region. The public community college has campuses in East Peoria, Peoria and Pekin serving more than 7,000 students.

 Workforce equity: In Peoria, new higher education programs tackle institutional racism

Founded in 1897, Bradley University in Peoria has some 1,300 employees. The private university is consistently rated among the nation's best in various categories. Its enrollment includes about 4,600 undergraduate and 1,300 graduate students.

BU entrepreneur: Essence of Peoria: How a foul fragrance became the talk of the town (and beyond)

With its headquarters in Peoria, Advanced Technology Services has a workforce of 1,073. The industrial machinery repair and maintenance company works with manufacturers to lower costs and improve productivity. Founded in 1985, Advanced Technology Services has been cited by Forbes as one of America's Best Midsize Employers.

More coverage: Advanced Technology Services provides tech services around the world

A supply chain and logistics concern, Peoria-based SC2 Services employs 1,030 people in the region. The employee-owned company provides packaging services, warehousing, industrial painting, logistics and dealer returns at locations in Bartonville, Delavan, East Peoria, Mossville, Pekin and Peoria.

Related: Bartonville to CityLink Transit Center route has lots its grant

Located in Peoria, Liberty Steel & Wire has 912 employees and is one of the nation's largest wire and rod mills, producing some 700,000 tons of steel each year. Formerly Keystone Steel and Wire, the company manufactures billets, rebar, rod, industrial wire and agricultural fencing.

Related: Throughout a history of change, Keystone's purpose remains the same

The city of Peoria has 888 employees, including public administration, fire, police, public works and other departments serving some 113,000 residents.

Related: More police, more road repairs: Highlights of Peoria's new $262 million budget  

Founded in 1937 and once known as Caterpillar Employees Federal Credit Union, CEFCU has 867 employees providing banking services. In the five-county region, it has locations in Chillicothe, East Peoria, Eureka, Germantown Hills, Lincoln, Morton, Pekin, Peoria and Washington.

A manufacturer of construction machinery and equipment, Komatsu American Corp. employs about 850 people at its Peoria facility. There, the Tokyo-based manufacturer produces massive dump trucks for the mining industry. 

More coverage: Averyville gets a face-lift with Komatsu's demolition of century-old factory buildings

Formed in 1825, Peoria County has 783 employees serving a population of over 181,000. Among its departments are administrative services, development and infrastructure, health and human services, real estate tax cycle services, and public safety and justice. The latter includes the Peoria County Sheriff's Office.

Related: Why the Peoria County sheriff says he won't run for reelection in 2022

With 750 employees, Pekin Insurance has a home office in Pekin and affiliated agencies in Bartonville, Brimfield, Chillicothe, Delavan, East Peoria, Elmwood, Eureka, Glasford, Mackinaw, Manito, Metamora, Minier, Morton, Pekin, Peoria, Princeville, Tremont and Washington.

Pekin news: Pekin Insurance celebrates 100 years of business

A multinational power management company, Eaton Corp. has 700 area employees engaged in electrical equipment and appliances manufacturing at its Lincoln factory. 

Related: Eaton employees top United Way giving

The United States Postal Service employs 650 people at locations throughout the Greater Peoria area.

More coverage: Mega amounts of mail sort through post office during the holiday season

Opened in 1991 in Peoria, the Par-a-Dice Hotel and Casino now operates out of East Peoria, where it employs 615 people.

If you go: Par-A-Dice: A Vegas-style experience on a true riverboat 

Specializing in tube and sheet metal fabrication and laser cutting, Morton Industries has 600 employees at its Morton facility.

Help wanted: Hamburgers and hot dogs join wages and benefits as job perks at a Morton company 

With two metal fabrication manufacturing locations in Morton, Matcor employs 520 people in the five-county region.

More: Students tour manufacturing plants

The electricity and gas delivery company Ameren has 510 workers in Greater Peoria.

More:Think your Ameren energy bill was high last winter? Just wait for this summer