Issue: Communities need current labor availability and skill assessment information to support population stabilization as well as, business retention, expansion and recruitment. Business wants assurance that there is an available pool of talent when they make relocation or expansion decisions. This documentation is provided through Community Labor Availability Studies.
Community Labor Availability Studies also provide valuable information about the makeup of the local labor force, underemployment, and travel patterns. This information is valuable in designing career ladder and life long learning training opportunities to help address workforce retention and develop responses to skill shortages in the community.
Labor Availability Study Process:
The Department of Commerce along with representatives from local development corporations, communities, and Job Service North Dakota met in May 2009, to review an update the process for conducting the standardized community labor availability studies. During the meeting we reviewed, validated and updated the core data requirements, and standardized a procedure to support a consistent format and process for conducting and updating labor availability studies.
The North Dakota Department of Commerce has procured the services of Social Science Research Institute at the University of North Dakota to complete the data collection phase of the project. Job Service North Dakota, will complete the data analysis, research and report writing phase for the studies.
We are planning to begin the data collection phase of the 2010 Community Labor Availability Studies by January 15, 2010. Copies of the Final Reports and Executive Summaries for communities who participate in the 2010 Labor Availability Studies will be provided to communities no later than July 1, 2010 and will be posted on the Commerce web site at www.ndworkforce.com.
The cost of the studies are paid for by participating communities and counties with matching funds provided by the North Dakota Department of Commerce Workforce Development Division.
2010 Labor Availability Study Process:
The data collection for the 2008 Community Labor Availability Studies will begin in January 2010. The timeframe for completion of the data collection for the studies is late March 2010. The timelines for completion of the Final Reports and Executive Summaries for each community participating in the Community Labor Availability Studies is July 1, 2010.
Next Steps:
1. Letters of commitment from the communities and counties interested in participating in the 2010 Labor Availability Studies will be due by November 30, 2009.
a. Communities must complete a Notice of Intent to Participate.
2. Community payments for their match/share of the Labor Availability Studies will be due by January 31, 2010.
a. Checks must be made out to the North Dakota Department of Commerce -Workforce Development Division and sent to:
ND Dept. of Commerce Workforce Development Division P.O. Box 2057 Bismarck, ND 58502-2057
3. Final Reports and Executive Summaries will be provided to participating communities and counties by July 1, 2010. (Final reports will be available at www.ndworkforce.com).
Projected Community Share of Study Costs:
The following represents the community or county share of costs to participate in the study updates:
• Big Four Communities $6,000 • Mid Four Communities $3,000 • 2000 population + $2,000 • 1000 population + $1,000 • Less than 1000 population $ 500
