IN-DEPTH LABOR STUDY UNDERWAY

The Southwest Missouri Workforce Innovation Board retained the Growth Services Group, LLC., a national labor market research consulting firm, to administer a local Labor Supply Certification. The random household survey will be conducted via electronic survey. Residents are encouraged to participate when contacted throughout the seven WIB counties in Southwest Missouri, along the Kansas and Oklahoma counties of the Joplin Regional Partnership. The goal of the survey is to identify the available labor force at the local and regional level by type, education, experience, skills, costs, and under what conditions they would be available for employment.

This area of research, from the household survey, reflects the views and perspective of workers and non-employed persons from age 18 through 64 and represents the supply side of the workforce. The findings will reflect both the current and desired work opportunities of those who are available for work and those who are underemployed. This data complements public data sources for the area.

Labor is a key factor in site selection for employers. In fact in Area Development magazine’s 2014 Corporate Survey, “availability of skilled labor” was the number one response. GSG reports quantify the workforce so that the local labor force assets are well defined to those who are looking to potentially employ. The respondent’s comments will be confidential and will only be reported in the aggregate or grand totals.

“The GSG Labor Supply Certification provides critical information regarding underemployment in the region. This information allows employers to gain an understanding of those in the labor force who posses skills, certifications and educational attainment that they are not using in their current position, noted Cory Mehaffey from the Growth Services Group. “In addition, the survey gathers information regarding the motivating factors for the underemployed to take another opportunity including desired wages, benefits and commuting distance.”

According to Jasen Jones, Executive Director at the WIB, participating in the survey helps both workers and employers. The results from the survey will allow site selectors and businesses to better evaluate the area’s human resource assets for “Underemployment, Available Skills, and Desired Wages,” thus allowing potential employers to match their labor needs or demand with our local area’s labor supply. To obtain a link to the survey, contact the Board at 417-206-1717, Ext. 106, or visit workforcezone.net.