Opportunity
Economic Development in SE Iowa
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OPPORTUNITY READY = OPPORTUNITY SQUARED!
Regional Laborshed Analysis
Appanoose, Davis, Jefferson, Keokuk, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, and Wapello Counties
A Study of Workforce Characteristics
Released January 2013
Laborshed Studies
A Laborshed is defined as the area or region from which an employment center draws its commuting workers. To
determine the approximate boundaries of the Opportunity2 Region, information from local and state sources were plotted for
geographic analysis. The information contained within this summary is based on aggregate data from the Albia, Bloomfield,
Centerville, Fairfield, Knoxville, Ottumwa, Oskaloosa and Sigourney Laborshed studies (1,924 total completed surveys).
Customized industry specific and community specific information is available upon request.
Occupations and Employment Status in the Opportunity2 Region
Survey respondents from the Opportunity2 Region
were asked to identify their current job title and the
industry in which they are currently working. The
largest concentration of workers are employed
within the management; office and administrative
support; or education, training & library
occupational categories. The top industries are
manufacturing, education and healthcare & social
services
Occupations
The chart below shows the percentage of
respondents by employment status within the
Opportunity2 Region commuting area.
100%
Percent Willing to Change/Accept Employment
80%
74.5%
57.7%
60%
38.3%
40%
21.4%
20.7%
20%
9.1%
Employed
Unemployed*
10.2%
6.2%
0%
Voluntarily Not
Employed/Not Retired
Retired
Total Potential Labor Force: 447,421
(entire Regional Commuting Area)
Management
Office & Administrative Support
Education, Training & Library
Production
Healthcare Practitioner & Technical
Sales & Related
Business & Financial Operations
Transportation & Material Moving
Food Preparation & Serving Related
Installation, Maintenance & Repair
Personal Care & Service
Construction & Extraction
Architecture & Engineering
Healthcare Support
Computer & Mathematical Science
Community & Social Services
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports & Related
Building/Grounds Cleaning & Maintenance
Life, Physical & Social Science
Protective Service
Legal
Farming, Fishing & Forestry
Military Specific
% within
Region
18.4%
13.5%
10.6%
10.6%
7.1%
4.9%
4.8%
3.5%
3.1%
2.9%
2.7%
2.7%
2.4%
2.3%
1.8%
1.7%
1.6%
1.6%
1.2%
1.2%
0.8%
0.4%
0.2%
Underemployment
The underemployed are composed of individuals who are working fewer than 35 hours per week but desire more hours;
who are working at wages equal to or less than the national poverty level; and/or who are working in positions that do not
meet their skill or education levels; or who worked for higher wages at previous employment.




1.6% Inadequate hours
2.5% Mismatch of skills
1.0% Low income
4.1% Total estimated underemployment
Individuals may be underemployed for more than one reason, but are counted only once for total estimated underemployment.
Industrial Classification of the Employed
Industry
% of
Laborshed
# of
Employed
%
Employed
Manufacturing
Education
Healthcare & Social Services
Wholesale & Retail Trade
Personal Services
Public Administration & Government
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate
Transportation, Communication & Utilities
Professional Services
Construction
Agriculture
Entertainment & Recreation
Other (Non-profit, Religious, Military, etc.)
18.7%
17.2%
14.9%
11.8%
6.7%
6.4%
5.9%
5.7%
4.5%
3.7%
3.3%
1.1%
0.1%
62,332
57,333
49,666
39,333
22,333
21,333
19,666
19,000
15,000
12,333
11,000
3,667
333
75.7%
77.6%
79.4%
67.5%
81.0%
74.3%
74.0%
71.1%
72.0%
72.6%
90.9%
60.9%
*
% Willing to
%
Change
Unemployed
Employment
26.0%
7.3%
16.8%
2.6%
18.8%
8.3%
25.2%
15.1%
24.7%
7.0%
20.5%
3.8%
15.5%
8.3%
14.5%
10.3%
11.1%
5.3%
26.7%
14.5%
2.5%
4.5%
21.4%
21.7%
*
*
*Insufficient survey data/refused
Survey respondents from the Opportunity2 Region commuting area were asked to identify the industry in which they are
currently working. The largest concentration of workers are employed in the manufacturing industry.
Opportunity2 Region Regional Laborshed Area
STORY
BOONE
Marshalltown
MARSHALL
Ames
_
^
BENTON
TAMA
Quick Facts
£
¤
Legend
151
JONES
LINN
Opportunity Squared Node Community
Opportunity Squared Regional Laborshed Area
Ames
Interstates
Cambridge
£
¤
141
Polk City
Johnston
LLAS
§
¦
¨
35
£
¤
Elkhart
US Highways
West Des Moines Runnells
Des Moines
Carlisle
Williamsburg
POWESHIEK
Reasnor Sully
Monroe
163
Otley
£
¤ ^
_
Pleasantville
69
63 Barnes City Keswick
Lacona
Rose Hill
Oskaloosa
_
^
MARION
Tracy
Knoxville
Dallas
Melcher
Bussey
Columbia
MUSCATINE
Wellman
WebsterSouth English
What Cheer
New Sharon
Leighton
6
Missouri County
North English
£
¤
Pella
£
¤
Iowa County
Parnell
Deep River
Searsboro
MAHASKA
5
Milo
Montezuma
£
¤^
_
Hartford
WARREN Indianola
£
¤
Illinois JOHNSON
County
IOWA
Lynnville
Prairie City
Swan
DISON
§
¦
¨
80
Altoona
CEDAR
State Highways
Grinnell
Newton
Colfax
Mitchellville
Marengo
Brooklyn
Kellogg
JASPER
Moines
Norwalk
4-Lane Highways
Mingo
AnkenyBondurant
POLK
Des Moines
Urbandale
Des Moines
Clive
Laurel
330 Baxter
Maxwell
Sigourney Harper
Delta
_
^
Keota
163
Fremont
Washington
LOUISA
Ollie
MER
Richland
Eddyville
Brighton
Hedrick
Lovilia
ROCK
61
WASHINGTON
KEOKUK
£
¤
£
¤
West Chester
Packwood
Wayland
Williamson
CLARKE
LUCAS
_
^
Melrose
Fairfield
Ottumwa
Albia
MONROE
Chariton
_
^
WAPELLO
_
^
Batavia
JEFFERSON
Russell
§
¦
¨
£
¤
Plano
£
¤ ^
_
Promise City
Lockridge
Mount Pleasant
WAYNE
2
New London
Hillsboro
_
^
VAN BUREN
Milton
Exline Moulton
Cincinnati
PUTMAN
Unionville
MERCER
£
¤
£
¤
136
Glenwood
Livonia
Salem
HENDE
Middletown
£
¤
Bonaparte
LEE
Pulaski
Farmington
63
Coatsville
Burlington
DanvilleWest Burlington
218
Keosauqua
DAVIS
APPANOOSE
Seymour
DES MOINES
HENRY
Stockport
Douds
Bloomfield
Centerville Udell
Allerton
RRISON
34
Drakesville
Corydon
DECATUR
£
¤
Libertyville
Birmingham
Floris
Humeston
LD
Blakesburg
Moravia
65
35
Area
Shown
Millerton
Eldon
Cantril
£
¤
61
Lancaster
SCHUYLER
Downing Memphis
HANCOCK
SCOTLAND
MC
CLARK
Queen City
SULLIVAN
ADAIR
Those who are employed willing to change
employment in the Opportunity2 Region are willing
to commute an average of 28 miles one way for
employment opportunities.
(Employed - willing to change employment)

20.7% are willing to change employment

15.9% are working multiple jobs

Currently working an average of 42
hours per week

Average age is 48 years old

27.7% currently working in the
professional, paraprofessional &
technical occupational category,
followed by 22.8% in the production,
construction & material handling
occupational category

Most frequently identified job search
sources:

Internet
www.iowajobs.org
www.careerbuilder.com
www.monster.com

Local/Regional newspapers
Des Moines Register
Ottumwa Courier

Networking through friends, family
or acquaintances

Local IowaWORKS Centers
Benefits Currently Offered
The survey provides the respondents an opportunity
to identify employment benefits they currently are
offered. The chart at right provides the percentage of
responses from those who are currently employed.
90.0%
Health/Medical
Pension/Retirement
Dental Coverage
Paid Vacation
Life Insurance
Paid Holidays
Vision Coverage
Paid Sick Leave
Disability Insurance
62.2%
53.1% 52.1%
The majority (77.2%) of respondents state they are
currently sharing the cost of health insurance
premiums with their employer. However, 14.2 percent
indicate their employer pays the entire cost of
insurance premiums.
32.4% 31.6%
29.3%
27.0%
21.0%
Education and Current Median Wage Characteristics by Industry
Education
Industry
Agriculture, Forestry & Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
Transportation, Communication & Utilities
Wholesale & Retail Trade
Finance, Insurance, & Real Estate
Healthcare & Social Services
Personal Services
Entertainment & Recreation
Professional Services
Public Administration & Government
Education
Some Level
Beyond High
School
Associate
Degree
63.6%
53.2%
54.0%
63.9%
52.4%
67.7%
82.1%
74.0%
69.6%
80.0%
74.3%
89.2%
11.4%
9.7%
15.3%
10.3%
9.4%
9.4%
25.4%
9.0%
17.4%
14.7%
12.4%
6.0%
Median Wages
Undergraduate Postgraduate
Degree
Degree
18.2%
12.9%
17.0%
22.6%
16.5%
36.5%
19.3%
22.0%
21.7%
36.0%
30.5%
38.4%
This table includes all respo ndents witho ut co nsideratio n o f emplo yment status, willingness to change/enter emplo yment, o r o ccupatio n
*Insufficient survey data/refused
6.8%
*
1.3%
5.2%
1.4%
6.3%
11.8%
6.0%
4.3%
13.3%
6.7%
32.8%
Salary
Non-Salary
Wages
Wages
(per year) (per hour)
$44,000
$61,000
$60,000
$50,000
$48,000
$50,000
$65,500
$30,000
$35,000
$45,000
$60,000
$50,000
$11.50
$18.63
$17.15
$22.00
$9.92
$15.75
$14.00
$14.00
$11.50
$13.63
$18.00
$12.58
Unemployed - Those Willing to Enter/Re-enter Employment











9.1% of the region are unemployed*
57.7% are willing to accept employment
46.5% have become unemployed within the last year;
Average age is 48 years old
52.5% are female and 47.5% are male
Education:
 50.5% have some post high school education

5.9% are trade certified

2.0% completed vocational training
 11.9% have an associate degree
 11.9% have an undergraduate degree

5.0% have a postgraduate/professional degree
Estimated wage range to attract the upper 66-75% of
qualified hourly wage applicants is $11.04 to $12.00
per hour with a median lowest wage considered of
$9.35 per hour
76.2% expressed interest in seasonal employment
opportunities
79.2% expressed interest in temporary employment
opportunities
60.4% expressed interest in working varied shifts
(2nd, 3rd & split);
Willing to commute an average of 23 miles one way
for the right opportunity
*Employment status is self‐iden fied by the survey respondent. The unemployment percentage does not reflect the unemployment rate published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Sta s cs, which applies a stricter defini on. 

Would prefer to enter employment that offers the
following benefits:
 Health/medical insurance - 80.5%
 Dental coverage - 36.6%
 Paid vacation - 34.1%
 Pension/retirement options - 30.5%
 Vision coverage - 15.9%
 Paid holidays - 14.6%
 Life insurance - 13.4%
 Paid sick leave - 11.0%
 Prescription drug coverage - 7.3%
 Disability insurance - 7.3%
61.9% are seeking employment offers where the
employer/employee share the cost of medical
insurance premiums.
Job Search Media
The Internet
61.3%
Local Newspapers
39.8%
Local IowaWORKSCenters
32.3%
Networking
29.0%
Regional Newspapers
5.4%
Sponsored in Partnership with
For more information regarding the Opportunity2 Region Regional Laborshed Study, contact:
Opportunity2
PO Box 1110
Ottumwa, IA 52501
Phone: 641.684.6551
Fax: 641.684.4894
Email: [email protected]
www.op2iowa.com
www.area15rpc.com
This information is analyzed and compiled by the
Iowa Workforce Development
Labor Market & Workforce Information Division
Regional Research & Analysis Bureau
1000 E. Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50319
(515) 281-7505
www.iowaworkforce.org