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Additional Information:

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.

 

 

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.
In the Spring of 2006, The Alabama Department of Industrial Relations Labor Market Information Division presented the Skills For Tomorrow in Alabama 2002-2012 report. As promised, they can now deliver skills projections reports for the 10 workforce investment advisory areas and 2 local workforce investment areas. This report focuses on skills for the region, covering skills which will be in high demand over the period and occupations that utilize those critical skills. It also touches on knowledge requirements and work activities that will be in demand over the period. Follow this link: Skills for Tomorrow in Alabama for a copy of the report.

The top 12 skills relating to the current occupational supply in Region 3 are: Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Writing, Critical Thinking, Active Learning, Coordination, Instructing, Social Perceptiveness, Learning Strategies, Monitoring, and Time Management. Below is a list of the skill gaps by occuapational preparation.
  • 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
The top 9 knowledge job requirements in occupations are: Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Education and Training, Clerical, Mathematics, Sales and Marketing, Mechanical, Administration and Management, and Psychology.

The Top 10 work activity job requirements for the region are: Establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships; Getting information needed to do the job; Handing and moving objects; Communicating with supervisors, peers, or subordinates; Organizing, planning, and prioriting work; Updating and using job-relevant knowledge; Performing general physical activities; Working directly with the public; Making decisions and solving problems; and Monitoring processes, materails, or surroundings.

Region 32002-2012 Occupational Projections
OccupationsAvg. Annual
Growth Rate
Avg. Anuual
Job Openings
Accountants and Aucitors1.5525
Administrative Servies Managers2.665
Child, Family, and School Social Workers2.105
Civil Engineers0.515
Coaches and Scouts2.5410
Computer and Information Systems Managers 2.265
Comuter Support Specialists2.1010
Computer Systems Analysts 2.5410
Cost Estimators2.1010
Dental Hygienists3.825
Education Administrators: Elementary and Secondary School1.5510
Education Administrators: Postsecondary1.7610
Educational, Vocational, and School Counselors1.7310
Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics2.145
Engineering Managers 1.345
Fire Fighters1.0615
First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Mechanics, Installers, and Repaires1.3725
First-Line Supervisors/Mangers of Police and Detectives0.965
First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Retail Sales Workers1.1650
Food Service Managers1.1210
General and Operations Managers1.7280
Health Specialists Teachers - Postsecondary1.7420
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers3.2120
Industrial Engineers3.8210
Industrial Production Managers1.7610
Instructional Coordinators2.665
Insurance Sales Agents0.7115
Lawyers1.4810
Librarians1.1810
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses1.9445
Loan Officers1.5510
Management Analysts2.6610
Medical and Health Services Managers2.3610
Personal and Home Care Aides3.2815
Physical Therapists2.035
Public Relations Managers3.425
Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products0.655
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians3.8710
Real Estate Sales Agents0.515
Recreation Workers1.645
Registered Nurses1.8780
Sales Managers1.7310
Training and Development Specialists2.545

Available Workers In The Tuscalossa Area

Total Number of Workers Available For An Employer

49,900

Underemployed Workers

31,300

Underemployed Persons, seeking work

8,900

Persons not working, but contemplating re-entering the workforce

9,700


Employment Skills of Underemployed Workers in Tuscaloosa Labor Shed

Skills*

Number of Persons

Percentage

Office/Data/Word Processing

15,900

51%

Warehouse/Materials Handling

14,400

46%

Manufacturing/Assembly/Fabrication

15,960

51%

Machining/Welding/Other Industrial Machines

11,580

37%

Telecommunications

9,080

29%

Technician/Quality Assurance

9,390

30%

Maintenance

11,270

36%

Electronics/Engineering

4,070

13%


Employment Experience of Underemployed Workers in Tuscaloosa Labor Shed


Experience*

Number of Persons

Percentage

Office/Data/Word Processing

15,340

49%

Warehouse/Distribution/Transportation

15,340

49%

Manufacturing/Assembly

16,900

54%

Industrial Operations

11,580

37%

Call Center

4,070

13%

Government/Educaiton

9,390

30%

Sales

14,710

47%

Customer Service

18,154

58%

Education of Underemployed Workers

Less than High School

2%

High School Graduate

33%

Some College

37%

Associate Degree

7%

College Degree

16%

Graduate Degree

5%

Age of Underemployed Workers

18-30 yrs

24%

31-40 yrs

35%

41-50 yrs

33%

51+ yrs

8%

Commuting Distance of Underemployed Workers

0-10 Miles

51%

11-20 Miles

19%

21-30 Miles

15%

31-40 Miles

7%

Over 40 Miles

8%

Desired Wage Rates (per hour)

Desired Wage Rates

Desired Wages (per hour) - Lower Quartile
Underemployed Workers

Desired Wage
Labor Shed

Lowest Desired Wage Locations Surveyed Past 18 Months

Median Desired Wage Locations Surveyed Past 18 Months

Highest Desired Wage Locations Surveyed Past 18 Months

$10.14 or less

$8.30 of less

$10.15 or less

$11.99 or less

Desired Wages (per hour) - Upper Quartile
Underemployed Workers

Desired Wage
Labor Shed

Lowest Desired Wage Locations Surveyed Past 18 Months

Median Desired Wage Locations Surveyed Past 18 Months

Highest Desired Wage Locations Surveyed Past 18 Months

$18.90 or less

$15.06 of less

$18.75 or less

$23.90 or less

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

Manufacturing/Assembly

Manufacturing/Assembly

Comparison of SKILLS of Underemployed Workers

Machining/Welding/Other Industrial Machines

Machining/Welding

Comparison of SKILLS of Underemployed Workers

Maintenance

Maintenance

Warehouse/Materials Handling

Warehouse/Materials Handling

Technician/Quality Assurance

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

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