The highest demand for workers over the next several years will be information technology workers, lab technicians, and production and process technicians for manufacturing. The manufacturers of the region need computer literate production people that possess excellent analytical and verbal skills. Skilled machinists and crafts personnel continue to be extremely difficult to find. This shortage has been critical for the last ten years. Twenty-five positions were surveyed to ascertain worker availability.
Employers are concerned about the quality of high school and community college graduates.
Potential employees are concerned about jobs for their spouses and the ability to find another job should their company or industry experience layoffs. The region has a very broad base of business with very few clusters. Good ratings for the productivity and work ethic of the work force but once again fault area high schools and community colleges for not providing students with basic skills.