Laborshed Analysis
Local Workforce
Data on the available workforce in Story County can be found in the Story County Laborshed Analysis from Iowa Workforce Development. A laborshed is defined as the area or region from which an employment center draws its commuting workers. This report not only estimates the potential availability of workers but also describes characteristics of these workers. The following links show the recent survey results.
Laborshed Analysis 2003
Laborshed Analysis 2005
Laborshed Analysis 2007
The 2009 total adjusted labor force for the Story County Laborshed is 407,463. According to the study, 109,438 of those individuals who are either employed, unemployed, homemakers, or retirees within the Story County Laborshed are willing to change or accept employment within the workforce.
Employed. The employed individuals who are “very likely” or “somewhat likely” to change jobs within their company or accept a position with a different employer represent the primary pool of available labor (93,543). This key group has the following characteristics:
• 79.5 percent have some level of education or training beyond high school.
• 9.4 percent are working multiple jobs.
• They are currently working an average of 41 hours per week.
• Their average age is 45 years old.
• 58.3 percent are female and 41.7 percent are male.
• 34.8 percent are currently working in professional, paraprofessional, or technical occupations, followed by 20.9 percent in production, construction, or material handling.
• The median wage of those who are employed is $14.00 per hour and the median salary is $54,000 per year.
Unemployed. For those in the Laborshed who are unemployed (3,769), nearly three-quarters (72.2 percent) have some post high school education, 8.3 percent have an associate degree, 16.7 percent have an undergraduate degree, and 11.1 percent have a postgraduate degree.
Homemakers. The report found that 9,152 homemakers are interested in accepting employment if presented with the right opportunity.
Retirees. An estimated 2,974 retired persons are interested in re-entering the workforce in some capacity.
Underemployed. This report also considers those workers who are underemployed, that is, they are employed but have one or more of the following characteristics at their current employment: inadequate number of hours, mismatch of skills, or low income. It is estimated that 4,022 people fit into the “underemployed” category.
(Iowa Workforce Development Research & Strategic Initiatives Unit, Released July 2009)
 |
 |