IT’S TIME FOR ANOTHER “LABOR-SHED” EMPLOYMENT STUDY OF SOUTHEAST IOWA.
THE GREAT RIVER REGION PARTNERSHIP AND IOWA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMBINE FORCES TO ESTIMATE…EVERY TWO YEARS…THE POTENTIAL LABOR FORCE AVAILABLE TO BUSINESSES OPERATING IN DES MOINES…LEE…HENRY…AND LOUISA COUNTIES. THE SO-CALLED “LABOR-SHED” HELPS NEW AND EXISTING EMPLOYERS ASSESS THE SIZE AND SKILLS OF THE AREA LABOR FORCE…BASED ON COMMUTING PATTERNS AND REGARDLESS OF COUNTY OR STATE LINES.
HERE’S HOW IT’LL BE DONE: WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WILL MAIL SURVEYS TO AREA BUSINESSES, ASKING THEM TO LIST THE NUMBER OF THEIR EMPLOYEES AND EACH ONE’S ZIP CODE. THE INFORMATION WILL BE USED TO DEFINE THE REGION’S “LABOR-SHED” BOUNDARIES. ONCE THE BOUNDARIES ARE KNOWN, A CONFIDENTIAL HOUSEHOLD TELEPHONE SURVEY WILL BE CONDUCTED WITHIN THE AREA…COVERING TOPICS LIKE EMPLOYMENT STATUS…WAGES…BENEFITS…EDUCATION…AND OCCUPATION. THE RESULTS ARE THEN USED TO DEVELOP A TOTAL POTENTIAL LABOR FORCE FOR THE AREA AND ESTIMATES OF ITS CHARACTERISTICS.
MIKE NORRIS OF THE SOUTHEAST IOWA REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION AND KILEY MILLER OF THE MT. PLEASANT AREA DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION WILL TELL US MORE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY ON KBUR’S “THE TALK SHOW,” TOMORROW(FRI) MORNING AT 10:30.
