(Spencer)– The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation is releasing updated statistics from its latest study into the region’s workforce, or laborshed analysis, which is updated every three years.
The latest analysis was conducted in the spring of 2009. Telephone surveys were conducted of more than 1,600 residents in Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson and Emmet counties between the ages of 18 and 64. The results indicated that 83 percent of the respondents at that time were employed with 5.9 percent unemployed. 4.2 percent were homemakers and 6.6 percent were retired.
The analysis also found that individuals willing to change or accept employment in the region are willing to commute 21 miles one way for employment opportunities; more than 18 percent are working multiple jobs; over 20 percent currently employed are willing to change jobs for the right opportunity; and more than 45 percent of homemakers and about 15 percent of retirees would be willing to re-enter the workforce.
The study also found that a tenth of those surveyed are self-employed and over 26 percent expressed an interest in operating their own business.
The analysis also proves education and median wage information of the respondents by the industry in which they are employed, what resources are used seeking employment opportunities and what benefits they are currently offered.
The regional laborshed analysis is available for Estherville, Spencer, Spirit Lake and Storm Lake and is available by specific industries.
Full detailed reports are available for a fee from the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation office in Spencer. An executive summary of the analysis is available at the Corridor’s website at www.lakescorridor.com.
