Selected Wage Rates

Click on the categories below to view the wage information form the Alabama Department of Labor, Labor Market Information Division's 2008 Wage Survey.

• Long Range Occupational Projections 2008
• Alabama Industry Projections 2016

Also, an extensive audit of the Tuscaloosa Area Workforce was performed in 2006 to assess the skills and availability of our existing labor force. The study included multiple counties in the West Alabama region: Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, western Jefferson, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, and Walker. The assessment was performed by The Pathfinders, a site selection/location analysis firm based in Dallas, TX.

The Tuscaloosa survey area, referred to in this report as the “labor shed”, has an estimated total civilian labor force of approximately 177,500 people. About 8,900 people are shown to be in the unemployed category in that area. While some individuals in that unemployed group will be considered to be a potentially good source of employees, the type of quality employer which the Tuscaloosa area is attempting to attract typically does not rely on the unemployed to staff a new operation.

The results of this assessment determined that in addition to the 8,900 unemployed individuals in the labor shed, approximately 31,300 workers could be defined as underemployed: those individuals who would take a better job if offered by a new or existing employer and who possess the skills, education, and experience to qualify them for a better job. Over 10,600 underemployed workers in the labor shed would change jobs for $10.99 per hour or less, and 50% of the underemployed workers would take a new job for $13.69 per hour or less.

Of the 31,300 underemployed individuals, over 35% have some college experience; 7% have associate degrees; and, another 21% have earned four-year college degrees or higher. As these data relate solely to those individuals in the labor shed who are underemployed, they will vary from data representative of the population as a whole.

The primary source of good employees for employers moving into an area is the category of the underemployed: those individuals who are now working but desire better jobs and who possess the skills, education, and experience to qualify them for those better jobs. In the Tuscaloosa region, approximately 31,300 people can be categorized as underemployed. Reported findings about this group of underemployed workers include:

• About 10% of these individuals would change jobs for under $7.89 per hour;
• 33% would change jobs for less than $10.93 per hour; and,
• 50% would change for $13.69 or less.

• Short-Term On the Job Training: Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Social Perceptiveness, Instructing, Monitoring, Learning Strategies, Writing, and Coordination



• Moderate-Term On the Job Training: Active Listening, Writing, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Active Learning, Instructing, Social Perceptiveness, Time Management, and Learning Strategies



• Long-Term On the Job Training: Reading Comprehension, Installation, Troubleshooting, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Writing, Speaking, Coordination, Active Learning, and Equipment Selection



• Work Experience in Related Field: Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Monitoring, Active Listening, Management of Personnel Resources, Time Management, Writing, Coordination, Social Perceptiveness, and Critical Thinking



• Postsecondary Vocational Training: Learning Strategies, Speaking, Active Listening, Active Learning, Troubleshooting, Monitoring, Social Perceptiveness, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, and Time Management



• AA/AS Degree: Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Active Learning, Instructing, Critical Thinking, Learning Strategies, Writing, Speaking, Coordination, and Social Perceptiveness



• BA/BS Degree: Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Active Listening, Learning Strategies, Instructing, Active Learning, Writing, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, and Coordination



• BA/BS Degree and Work Experience: Reading Comprehension, Coordination, Speaking, Writing, Active Learning, Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Active Listening, and Time Management



• MA/MS Degree: Reading Comprehension, Writing, Active Learning, Speaking, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Learning Strategies, Complex Problem Identification, and Instructing



• Doctoral Degree: Writing, Reading Compreension, Critical Thinking, Active Learning, Speaking, Monitoring, Learning Strategies, Active Listening, Complex Problem Identification, and Instructing



• 1st Professional Degree: Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Social Perceptiveness, Writing, Critical Thinking, Active Learning, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring, and Coordination

Available Workers In The Tuscalossa Area

Education of Underemployed Workers

Age of Underemployed Workers

Commuting Distance of Underemployed Workers

Desired Wage Rates (per hour)

Desired Wages (per hour) - Lower Quartile
Underemployed Workers

Desired Wages (per hour) - Upper Quartile
Underemployed Workers

Comparison of EXPERIENCE of Underemployed Workers
Tuscaloosa Area Verses Other Locations
(27 million workers in consultant database from acoss US)

Manufacturing/Assembly

Comparison of SKILLS of Underemployed Workers

Machining/Welding/Other Industrial Machines

Comparison of SKILLS of Underemployed Workers

Maintenance

Warehouse/Materials Handling

Technician/Quality Assurance

West Alabama Center for Workforce Development

The West Alabama Center for Workforce Development was developed and is operated by Shelton State Community College. The Center works to ensure a coordinated effort between Shelton State, local business, and all related workforce programs. The Workforce Development Center offers additional training resources, enhances current workforce development, and provides the community with increased capacity to fuel workforce development. The close relationship that the Center has with local employers drives the recruitment, development of training options, and referrals for current job openings.

The Workforce Development Center Services:

• Job Placement Services
  This division offers job search assistance to all students and serves as a liaison for graduating students and West Alabama Industry. Databases are available to assist in matching qualified students and employers in need of workers.

• Continuing Education/Skills Training
  The training department offers a wide variety of courses at affordable prices and convenient times. Skills training classes are all job-specific and job-preparatory, with most courses lasting three months or less.

• Training for Business and Industry Center (TBI)
  TBI focuses on developing community and corporate partnerships, and works closely with local business leaders to provide professional instruction that upgrades the skills needed in today’s workplace.

• Focused Industry Training
  This program creates career pathways for individuals with limited education and employment experience. FIT provides the skills required for entry level employment with many Alabama industries and businesses.

For more information on The Center for Workforce Development contact Susan Miller at 205-391-2482