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 - Page 5 -From 1980 to 1990 the percentage of younger adults, those 18-20, declined 17.8% and those 21-24 declined 15.1%. The percentage of adults, 35-54 increased 32.3%. The population as a whole grew just 3.9% compared with 4.0% growth for the state and 9.7% for the nation. The aging population and workforce were commonly mentioned in planning documents through the period 1988-90. From 1990 to 1998, the population age 55+ has increased by 11.1%, or slightly lower than the 12.7% growth rate during this period. During the ten years following the 1980 Census, the minority population of the region grew 38% compared to a statewide increase of 14%. B. Economic and Business Conditions Labor Market Condition Employment Trends:
So, how many of these people are employed, and where are they working?
A larger percentage of the employed labor force is employed in the area, but a significant percentage of area workers leave the region to go to work in adjacent or nearby labor market areas. While employment has increased by 19.2% from 1990 to 1998, the number of workers employed in the region has increased by 26.1%. ...back
While the data is from the 1990 Census, the following chart shows how employees in our region get to work and their mean travel time.
What does the labor supply look like? The number of unemployed individuals has declined from 5,375 in 1990 to 4,250 in 1998. In recent years, the number of people unemployed has risen slightly, even though the percentage of unemployment has declined. As the labor force is growing faster than the population, for most years it also grows slightly faster than area employment. The problem is not that workers are not available. The problem reported by employers in a 1997 Michigan Works! survey is, too many of the workers available do not have the basic academic or work skills necessary for the jobs available. This skills mismatch is expected to continue as more high skilled jobs become available in the region. AOf the two major local area supply components (total unemployed and school graduates), total unemployed is higher, while the number of graduates is lower. In the current tight labor market, this may point to a continued shortage of workers in certain occupational classifications.@ (PY2000 Annual Planning Information Report) The Occupational classifications effected are likely to be those requiring higher skills. Based on data from Michigan Department of Education, the number of graduates from Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Newaygo, and Osceola county high schools has declined between 1996 and 1998.@ (PY2000 Annual Planning Information Report) A strong economy has greatly reduced the unemployment rate in our region. The following table illustrates this condition and how the various counties in the region compare with the rest of the state.
[Source: Michigan Department of Career Development/Employment Service Agency] ...back
[Employment Trends by Industry Sector] 28.3% of the employment in the West Central region is in Goods Producing industries, including construction and mining operations and manufacturing. This remains somewhat above the state average of 25.7% working in the goods producing area. Employment in the Service Producing area at 71.7% is somewhat lower in the West Central region than the 74.3% for the state as a whole. These ratios are influenced by the higher proportion of workers in government, 28.2% for West Central versus 14.6% for the state. The high governmental employment figure is partially attributed to Ferris State University, whose employees count as governmental employment as Ferris is a state institution. Goods producing occupations, particularly in construction is growing much faster than the regional average, however this represents about 850 workers. The growth in the service area is greatest in the Retail Trade area (1,200 jobs from 1993 to 1998) and 1,225 jobs in the general services area. The trend continues with a growth of 1,025 jobs projected in the general service area from 1996 to 2006, which is a growth rate of 10.5%. Other occupations have larger percentage growth rates but smaller employment numbers. The second largest growth in terms of the number of workers in the Professional Speciality area where a growth of 935 jobs is anticipated from 1996 to 2006. However, many of the openings in this area are expected to be replacement workers for those who retire or leave this field. Largest numerical growth is expected in the Service Area and includes cashiers, general managers and sales workers.
[Source: Michigan Department of Career Development Office of Labor Market Information] ...back
[Source: Michigan Department of Career Development Office of Labor Market Information] Top Ten Private Industry Employers - Third Quarter 1998 - West Central Michigan:
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Employment Forecast by Major Occupational Categories - 1995 - 2006 - West Central Michigan:
[Source: Michigan Department of Career Development Office of Labor Market Information] Annual Job Openings by Major Occupational Categories - 1995 - 2006 - West Central Michigan
[Source: Michigan Department of Career Development Office of Labor Market Information] ...back
Occupations with Largest Numeric Growth - 1998 - 2008 - West Central Michigan:
[Source: Michigan Department of Career Development Office of Labor Market Information] Trends in Worker Earnings
[US Department of Commerce US Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis] ...back
Supply-Demand Analysis The supply and demand of the labor force and occupational skills are inter-woven aspects of the area labor market. There are at least two key questions addressed in this analysis.
In 1998, the area labor force for the five county region (by place of residence) is 67,075, of which 63,050 people (by place of residence) are working, leaving 4,025 persons reported as unemployed. Employment in the five county region (by place of employment) is 44,625. This means that 18,425 workers or a net 29% commute to work outside of our five county region. From 1996 to 2006, employment in the region is expected to increase by an average of 1,892 jobs per year (PY2000 Annual Planning Information Report). The labor force has expanded by an average of 1,116 workers annually from 1990 to 1998, and is expected to continue to expand at this rate or greater for some time to come. At this rate the area will have an absolute labor shortage in about six years, if we assume a perfect world where all of the workers available live where the jobs are, and have the skills required for those jobs. Is the labor supply of workers who have the skills needed for jobs sufficient and readily available? Where are the jobs and what skill levels are needed for the occupational areas? The employment forecast by Major Occupational Areas for the ten year period from 1996 through 2006 show the following number of openings projected for this period:
[Source: PY2000 Annual Planning Information Report<]BR> * Most openings are to replace workers retiring or leaving the occupation. ...back
Occupations commonly require education or training at these levels. PS = Post Secondary B = 4 Year Degree (Example PS/B & A) = Post Secondary 2 to 4 years A = Associates Degree T = Specialized Training O = Training on the Job AP = Apprenticeship
Job Skills Information from the PY2000 Annual Planning Information Report list skill requirements given in the O*NET which is the US Department of Labor Occupational Information Network replacing the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. Information is listed by key skills, which are in addition to the Job Specific Skills a worker needs to perform these jobs. There is considerable duplication of Key Skills. Those at the higher levels of education often function at a higher level for these skills. Items are listed in the order of importance for occupations by educational requirement. Key Skills for Occupations Requiring at Least a Bachelor=s degree: Reading Comprehension Mathematics Science Speaking Critical Thinking Information Gathering Judgment and Decision Making Problem Identification Active Listening Writing Active Learning Solution Appraisal ...back
Key Skills for Occupations Requiring an Associates Degree Reading Comprehension Information Gathering Science Writing Mathematics Problem Identification Critical Thinking Active Listening Speaking Information Organization Key Skills for Occupations Requiring Post-Secondary Vocational or Technical Training Problem Identification Reading Comprehension Product Inspection Information Gathering Operation and Control Equipment Selection Information Organization Active Listening Operation Monitoring Judgment and Decision Making Key Skills for Occupations Requiring Moderate-Term On-the-Job Training Operation and Control Speaking Product Inspection Reading Comprehension Problem Identification Active Listening Equipment Selection Mathematics Information Gathering Information Organization ...back
Key Business Conditions Business Retention and Expansion Results
Barriers to Retention and Expansion
Key issues that will have a significant effect on future development in your county:
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