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Southwest Indiana Offers a Skilled, Reliable Workforce
The nine counties encompassing the Southwest Indiana Development Council's area boast a work force of 216,688 people.
Though the Southwest Indiana region enjoys relatively low unemployment, there is no shortage of labor. In fact, companies seeking persons to fill manufacturing positions are likely to receive fifteen to twenty-five applications per opening.
| County |
Labor Force |
Unemployed |
Unemployment Rate May 2010 |
Average Yearly Wage per Job (2008)
|
| DUBOIS |
21,961 |
1,553 |
7.1% |
$33,757.00 |
| GIBSON |
16,140 |
1,179 |
7.3% |
$43,124.00 |
| KNOX |
20,298 |
1,441 |
7.1% |
$30,343.00 |
| PERRY |
9,567 |
891 |
9.3% |
$32,229.00 |
| PIKE |
5,907 |
488 |
8.3% |
$41,974.00 |
| POSEY |
12,907 |
989 |
7.7% |
$48,517.00 |
| SPENCER |
10,930 |
887 |
8.1% |
$31,766.00 |
| VANDERBURGH |
89,033 |
7,709 |
8.7% |
$37,875.00 |
| WARRICK |
29,945 |
2,187 |
7.3% |
$37,891.00 |
| SWIDC Area |
216,688 |
17,324 |
7.88% |
$37,498.00 |
Source:Indiana Department of Workforce Development, June 2010
For detailed labor statistics, visit the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. |
As is the case throughout the country, there has been a subtle shift from manufacturing to the service industries in the region. However, manufacturing still comprises over 25% of the workforce. The primary manufacturing industries in Southwest Indiana include mining, appliance production, plastics, aluminum, steel, office furniture, and the automotive industry.
The most recent report from the Indiana Workforce Development Department on occupations and starting wages throughout Southwest Indiana can be viewed by clicking here.
Finding Qualified Workers
The Indiana Department of Workforce Development (IDWD) serves businesses. Through your local WorkOne Center you can access the largest labor pool in Indiana, link your company to services, list your job opening on a database, help your business find applicants and fill jobs with qualified workers, upgrade employee skills, access labor market information and help your business to stay competitive through tough times. WorkOne Evansville and WorkOne Vincennes provide assistance with all state provided services for employers.
WorkOne Evansville offers business a full range of employment related programs and services including:
- Monthly Business Seminars - First Thursday of Each Month - 7:30am to 9:00am. Seminar topics vary monthly and reflect local business requests. Recent seminars include:
- Unemployment Issues
- Family Medical Leave Act Information
- Labor Market Information
- Family Friendly Practices
For information on the next seminar, contact Cathy Boatman
Both WorkOne Evansville and WorkOne Vincennes can provide employers with a full range of employment and related services all under one roof, including, but not limited to:
- Work Keys Profiling (link opens in new browser window) - Work Keys is more than just an assessment program. Work Keys offers a complete spectrum of job analysis, assessment, instructional support, and training services. The program is built around the common skill scale that accurately measures both the skills of individuals and the skills required for successful job performance. Your organization can improve its profitability and long-term competitiveness by addressing three workforce concerns:
- Improving the caliber of potential employees
- Increasing the productivity of existing employees
- Reducing the costs of poor hiring decisions and turnovers
- List a job opening - Indiana Career Connect (opens in a new tab or window), the State of Indiana’s official labor exchange website. ICC is a robust internet portal providing access to a host of services tailored to help employers manage and develop their workforce.
- Labor Market Information - Looking for statistics on job wages, job projections, average wages, industries by job, regional labor market information? Just visit www.hoosierdata.in.gov (link opens in new browser window) to access Indiana's Labor Market Information. If you need assistance, please contact your nearest WorkOne Center.
- Referrals to fill vacant positions
- Taking Mass Applications at Your Site or Ours
- Contacting Applicants and Schedule Interviews
- Matching Applicants to Your Needs
- Providing Conference Rooms For Your Use
- Applicant Aptitude testing
- Posters
- Federal and state labor laws
- Application instructions
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You can also access services provided by the State of Indiana via the following links:
(Note: links below open in new browser window)
Work Force Development & Training
Training programs are plentiful in Southwest Indiana, many of which can be customized to meet specific employer needs. The University of Evansville and the University of Southern Indiana produce engineering graduates who are ready to work, due in large part to their excellent co-op programs.
The Technology Center at Ivy Tech State College is one example of how local businesses and educational resources formed a partnership to produce top line machine operators for the local plastics industry.
Vincennes University runs a number of customized programs to assist area employers in training workers and the WorkOne System provides job profiling for industry.
Oakland City University offers alternative programs at eight sites throughout the state.
Community Learning and Training Centers
A number of community learning and training centers have been established in the SWIDC Region. To view a complete list and contact information, click here.
Workers' Compensation and Unemployment
The cost of workers' compensation insurance premiums vary greatly from state to state and directly relate to the cost of each state's administered program and the level of benefits. Indiana's workers' compensation program is well-managed and well-funded. Consequently, this important cost of doing business is exceptionally low in Indiana. Unemployment insurance costs in Indiana are lower than in any other state in the Midwest.
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