The Southern Essex Regional Labor Market: A Blueprint

1. The Southern Essex Regional Labor Market: A Blueprint UMass Boston, Center for Community Development August 2000 Presenter: Christine Shaw, SEWIB

2. Introduction • Understanding of the regional labor market. • Supply • Demand • Intermediaries • Research using labor and demographic statistics, career ladder models, and existing education and training resources.

3. Labor Market Supply • Population grew 2.4% from 1990 – 2000 (Mass. Over all growth was 4.8%) • 1998 unemployment was at 3.3% • Minority population increasing • 82% of individuals 25 years or older obtained a high school diploma (80% State Wide) • 26% held a Bachelor’s Degree (27% State Wide)

4. Labor Market Supply Cont. • Self-Sufficiency Standard (amount of money working adults need to meet families basic needs) • For one adult w/one preschooler it is: 15.42 per hour or $2,715 per month • 28% of the households fall below this

5. Labor Market Demand • Main source of employment in Southern Essex Region • Health Care • Retail • Manufacturing • Construction • Personnel Supply Service

6. Construction • Special Trades Contractors: plumbing, heating and air conditioning (largest single trades group in North Shore), roofing, electrical etc. • Both large and small • Both union and non-union • Project-Specific Work • Regulated by licensing requirements • Highly Skilled • 51% growth from 1992-1998

7. Construction

8. Construction

9. Health Care- Hospitals • Hospitals are region’s largest and oldest employers • Career Ladder Advancement • 5,296 employees in the industry in 1998 • Private sector health care increasing. • Large number of level I and substantial number of level III jobs, gap at level II jobs.

10. Health Care

11. Manufacturing • Growing sector in industrial equipment. • Production jobs dominate the occupational profile- semi skilled, • Decline in the industry 12.4% however still accounts for 5,205 employees in 1998 • Best career ladder opportunities (more jobs at level III than level I)

12. Retail Trade: General Merchandise Stores • Merchandise stores are the largest sub-sector employer in retail. • Fluctuates with the economy • Employers experience labor shortages • 90% of the jobs DO NOT require a bachelor’s degree (level I job) • Very few advancement opportunities

13. Retail: General Merchandise

14. Personnel Supply Services • Temporary or permanent placement positions • Nation’s fastest growing industry. • Growth from 1,571 employees in 1990 to 3,250 in 1998. • Mostly entry level jobs, but skill level is based on placement slot.

15. Emerging Industries • Computer and Data Processing • Telecommunications • Financial Services/Web-based Banking

16. Computer and Data Processing • Typically small companies • Produce the programs and/or instructions that make computers useful. • Provide service to companies regarding computer purchases, networks etc. • Employment is technically demanding. • Strong need for communications and interpersonal skills as well as code writing and other technical skills.

17. Computer and Data Processing

18. Data Processing • 34% pre-baccalaureate employment • “We hire for attitude and train for skills” employer quote • Certification held role in skill recognition • Higher wages linked to certification obtainment.

19. Telecommunications • Provides the means to move information (voice, data or other) • Services such as phone, internet, cable, wireless • Two general types of work: customer contact and technical • Not degree dependant

20. Financial Services/Web-based Banking • Over all banking has declined (2,576 employees 1998) • Area of growth is in Web-based banking • Occupation areas: • Product Manager (technical consultant, systems architect) • E-commerce • Bachelors degree