Iowa Lakes Corridor Dev. Corp. Releases Findings Of Recent Survey Of Workers In The Region
Iowa Lakes Corridor Dev. Corp. Releases Findings Of Recent Survey Of Workers In The Region
April 07, 2022Steve Schwaller
(Spencer)– The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation has released the findings of a recent study of the laborshed in the four-county area they serve. Corridor representative JoAnn Follon presented the report to the Spencer City Council earlier this week. She says it shows 83.7 percent of the region’s workforce is currently employed…
“The last laborshed that was done was in 2019, and that is up probably 3.7 points, and that’s a good thing. The unemployed individuals are 7.5. And the thing to note on those two groups, too, is when you look at the employed individuals, a little over 27 percent of those would be willing to change employment for the right opportunity. And then, 18 percent of those are actively seeking other employment. Of the unemployed, 65 percent are willing to re-enter the workforce. They take a look at the homemakers, that segment of individuals that are home, 56 percent are willing to re-enter the workforce. And then even the retirees, there’s almost 28 percent willing to re-enter the workforce.”
The report shows 17.1 percent of the region’s workforce is employed in manufacturing, up six percent from the last report in 2019. The percentage of people employed in healthcare in the region, however, dropped from 18.3 percent to 12.7 percent. The findings also show that 16.4 percent of the workforce is employed in wholesale and retail trade and 11.8 percent in education. Median hourly wages range from $13.18 to $28.00 with median annual salaries from $35,000 to $73,000. The report finds those in finance and government and public administration earning the highest salaries with those in personal service and education among the lowest.
Follon says the laborshed study is important information on several fronts…
“The purpose of the laborshed study is to really understand what our workforce characteristics are in our region. So we use it in economic development, our businesses use it if they’re marketing employees, and then also new businesses looking at our area. They want to know what type of workforce, what’s the education of the workforce, you know, what’s the availability of the workforce. So these are all things that are very important to people who are looking to relocate.”
The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation serves Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson and Emmet counties.
