|
The FLW Region is a long chain of cities stretching 70 miles from east to west along I-44. Within this area is a workforce of approximately 52,000.
Ordinarily, this would be an acceptable body from which to draw labor, especially from companies seeking a more rural environment. However, this labor force is dispersed along an expanse pushing the outer limits of what is typically considered one commute area. In rural communities, commutes beyond thirty minutes for all but the most highly paid can be deemed excessive.
The distance between Rolla (to the east) and Lebanon (to the west) requires a one-hour drive, a stretch that would take considerably longer if not for the speed at which commuters can travel on I-44. The result is that each county draws from the surrounding counties. Laclede and Pulaski share workforce as do Pulaski and Phelps Counties. The Region has an ongoing workforce study that will better characterize the available workforce in the area.
The Region’s aggregate unemployment rate is just under 5 percent. This figure is, however, somewhat misleading. It fails to capture the sizable number of potential military retirees and university students available to the labor market. Breaking down this figure further reveals an unemployment rate in Phelps County of roughly 3 percent, very tight by recruitment standards. To the west in Laclede
|
