Employers Gain New Tool to Help Fill Needed Positions

A new labor shed study helps area employers better understand the labor force they have available to them. (file photo)

Oskaloosa, Iowa – Employers need skilled employees to help build and grow their businesses. A new labor shed study was recently released to the Mahaska County area, and the information inside that report gives an overview of the people and their skills available locally. This will enable employers to better recruit and plan development of future expansion of their business.

A labor shed’s purpose is to measure the availability and characteristics of workers within the Mahaska County area based on commuting patterns into Oskaloosa.

Deann DeGroot with Mahaska County Agricultural and Rural Development worked with Iowa Workforce Development to identify where current employees reside.

DeGroot spoke with Oskaloosa News about the importance of the study for the county. DeGroot said that the last labor shed study dated back to 2012.

The study also includes information on the wages being paid locally, which enables HR staff to make sure their offerings are competitive in the area.

The study is also used by businesses that are considering moving to the area to determine if there is a sufficient labor pool with the right skills needed in the area.

Some quick facts from the study show that the median wage is $12.92/hr and for salary employees, $65,000 per year.

In the Mahaska County labor shed area, 32.4% are actively seeking new employment, while 15.7% are working multiple jobs, with an average of 43 hours per week.

For those in the Mahaska County labor shed area who are likely to change or accept employment are willing to commute an average of 24 miles one-way for employment.

The out commute for Oskaloosa is estimated to be at 31.8 percent, or approximately 1,988 people living in Oskaloosa travel elsewhere to work. They commute to such places as Pella, Eddyville, Knoxville and Ottumwa.

You can find out more about the labor shed study by following the link listed HERE – LINK