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Total Available Workers. The available workforce represents those individuals indicating that they were unemployed or would consider changing employment for the right employment options, such as increased pay or benefits. A regional labor force survey found that there were 63,523 “available” workers in the Rolla/Phelps County Area Labor Market in 2001. It is estimated that 5,463 were unemployed (8.6 %), 11,120 were employed workers actively seeking new employment, while 46,940 workers would consider changing jobs for the right employment options. Missouri’s unemployment rate, by comparison, was an average of 4.7 % in 2001. Rolla/Phelps County’s labor market offers employers an adequate supply of available labor.
Almost 65 % (40,972 persons) of the Rolla/Phelps County Area Labor Market workforce were between the ages of 30 and 49 in late 2001. This statistic suggests that employers will find a very stable, experienced, and mature pool of prospective workers. There were 16,452 individuals between the ages of 18 and 29. The average age for the entire workforce was 41.4 years. The average age for working students was 38.8 years, indicating a strong interest in continuing education in the workforce. Males slightly out numbered females with a representation of 51.5 % (32,714) as compared to 30,809 (48.5 %).
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Estimated Population by Employment Status – 2004 |
|
|
Civilian
Employed |
Civilian Unemployed |
Not in Labor Force |
|
Rolla |
7,614 (53.04%) |
726 (5.06%) |
5,909 (41.16%) |
|
Phelps |
18,918 (55.87%) |
1,278 (3.77%) |
13,503 (39.88%) |
|
30 Mile Radius |
50,979 (51.60%) |
3,432 (3.47%) |
35,728 (36.16%) |
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Source: Claritas, Inc. |
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Rolla/Phelps County Major Employers – 2004 |
|
Name |
Product/Services |
Employed |
Union |
|
University of Mo Rolla |
Education |
1,271 |
None |
|
Phelps Co. Regional Medical Center |
Hospital |
1,100 |
None |
|
Wal-Mart Distribution Center |
Warehouse |
1,000 |
None |
|
Briggs & Stratton |
Small Engines |
950 |
None |
|
Rolla Public Schools |
Education |
554 |
None |
|
USGS |
Geospatial |
300 |
None |
|
Brewer Science |
Chemicals |
250 |
None |
|
City of Rolla |
Government |
200 |
None |
|
CANTEX, Inc. |
PVC Pipe |
125 |
None |
|
Mercy Medical Group |
Medical Services |
85 |
None |
|
Royal Canin USA |
Pet Food |
75 |
Carptrs & Joiners |
|
Tacony |
Vacuum Cleaner Manufacturing |
60 |
None |
Workers by Occupation Groups. The occupation category table and graph shows that the professional/technical group represents approximately 23 % of the employed workers, the “blue collar” manufacturing/production category 33 %, and the growing services sector at 35 % in the Rolla/Phelps County Area Labor Market.
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Workers by Occupational Group |
|
|
# in Workforce |
% of Workforce |
|
Professional/ Technical |
14,801 |
23.3% |
|
Manufacturing/ Production |
20,899 |
32.9% |
|
Services |
22,297 |
35.1% |
|
Other |
5,527 |
8.7% |
Educational Attainment. The education attainment level of the “Available workforce” in the Rolla/Phelps County Area Labor Market is high. The labor force survey found that 64.2 % of the available workers had at least some college credits. An amazing total of 96.8 % had at least a high school diploma.
Commuting Distances. Employers in the Rolla/Phelps County Area Labor Market can count on attracting workers from around the region, thereby significantly expanding their pool of prospective employees. The survey found that 51,136 (80 % of all available workers) would commute more than 15 minutes/miles, one way, for work. Further, 45.3 % of the area’s available workforce or 28,776 persons will travel more than 30 minutes/miles and 5,590 (8.8 %) will commute over 60 minutes/miles in order to find work.
Workforce Availability by Commuting Distance
|
Available Workforce Distance Travel One Way |
|
|
Number |
Percent |
|
61 Miles/Minutes or More |
5,590 |
8.8% |
|
46 – 60 Miles/Minutes |
14,039 |
22.1% |
|
31 – 45 Miles/Minutes |
9,147 |
14.4% |
|
26 – 30 Miles/Minutes |
13,213 |
20.8% |
|
16 – 25 Miles/Minutes |
9,147 |
14.4% |
|
11 – 15 Miles/Minutes |
2,668 |
4.2% |
|
10 or Less Miles/Minutes |
9,719 |
15.3% |
|
Available Workforce
Distance Travel One Way |
Miles |
|
Professional/Technical |
29.7 |
|
Manufacturing/Production |
39.0 |
|
Services |
31.4 |
|
Overall Average* |
33.3 |
|
Overall Median* |
30.0 |
|
Working Students |
30.7 |
|
* Includes all categories |
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Wages and Benefits. Rolla/Phelps County offers employers an affordable workforce when compared to the major metropolitan areas in Missouri. The price differential is particularly evident when comparing Rolla/Phelps County Area to national and statewide wage rates for certain key occupation areas. A listing of benefits provided employees shown as a percentage of the regional survey respondents is also a valuable insight into the labor market in the region.
|
Comparisons by Key Occupation Areas |
|
Labor Wage Comparisons |
|
Labor Market Area |
Mgt |
Prof/ |
Cleric |
Prod/ |
Svc |
Sales |
Overal |
|
|
Tech |
Maint |
|
|
National |
$30.74 |
$23.31 |
$11.07 |
$15.48 |
$9.05 |
$13.92 |
$17.46 |
|
|
Boston |
$36.12 |
$25.70 |
$12.58 |
$17.75 |
$10.36 |
$16.14 |
$19.85 |
|
|
San Jose |
$39.30 |
$29.59 |
$13.74 |
$19.10 |
$10.30 |
$17.56 |
$21.80 |
|
|
Missouri |
$27.28 |
$21.37 |
$10.46 |
$15.81 |
$8.31 |
$13.48 |
$16.42 |
|
|
St Louis |
$28.79 |
$22.12 |
$11.08 |
$17.38 |
$9.01 |
$14.04 |
$17.43 |
|
|
Kansas City |
$29.53 |
$22.06 |
$11.02 |
$16.22 |
$8.60 |
$14.06 |
$16.42 |
|
|
Rolla/Phelps Area Labor Market |
$21.80 |
$18.77 |
$9.47 |
$12.25 |
$7.50 |
$11.97 |
$13.63 |
|
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The complete Wage and Benefit Survey results are available from the City of Rolla, Missouri. |
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