Workforce Challenges: Some Background Data
Bo Beaulieu
Southern Rural Development Center
Strengthening & Building Partnerships for Workforce Development Conference
March 2-5, 2003
Employment Composition in the Nonmetro U.S., 1990 and
2000
33.8% 30.5%
69.5%66.2%
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
100%
1990 2000
Goods Producing Services Producing
11.1
Percent of Jobs Generated by Each Sector
in the Nonmetro U.S.,1990-2000
Goods Producing Services Producing
89.9%10.1%
Average Earnings Per Job in the Goods Producing
Sector
$0
$5,000
$10,000
$15,000
$20,000
$25,000
$30,000
$35,000
$40,000
$45,000
$50,000
Goods Producing1990 2000
NM: 66.5% of MetroNM: 60.8% of Metro
NM
NM
Metro
Metro
Average Earnings Per Job in the Service Producing
Sector
$0
$5,000
$10,000
$15,000
$20,000
$25,000
$30,000
$35,000
$40,000
Service Producing1990 2000
NM: 70.7% of Metro
NM: 65% of Metro
NMNMMetro
Metro
Why the Increasing Gap in Average Earnings?
$21,1677,067,4175,164,340Services
$15,4274,828,5133,959,799Retail Trade
$35,1844,324,0574,206,182Manufacturing
2000 Ave. Earnings
No. Employed2000
No. Employed1990
NM Industry Type
60% of employment growth in the nonmetro U.S. between 1990-2000 was linked to the Retail Trade and Services industries
Educational Attainment, 1990-2000
(25+ years old)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Metro Nonmet Metro Nonmet Metro Nonmet
LT H.S. High School Some College Bachelor's +
1990 1994 2000
Nonmetro Educational Attainment, by Race and
Ethnicity 1990-2000
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
1990 1994 2000 1990 1994 2000
LT H.S. High School Some College Bachelor's +
African Americans Latinos
Ranking of Graduation Rates by StateState Ranking Graduation Rate, 1998
Georgia 51 57%
Tennessee 50 59%
Mississippi 49 60%
District of Columbia 48 60%
Arizona 47 60%
Alabama 46 62%
Vermont 6 85%
Pennsylvania 5 85%
Nebraska 4 85%
North Dakota 3 87%
Wisconsin 2 87%
Iowa 1 93%Source: High School Graduation Rates in the United States (November 2001),
Computer Access in Metro and Nonmetro Homes,by U.S.
Regions,2001
63.5 64.159.6
67.163.4
63.355.7
46.4
60.455.6
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Metro Nonmetro
Northeast Midwest South West U.S.
Internet Users in Metro and Nonmetro Areas, by U.S. Regions, 2001
48.649.5
45.452
57.5
47.938.3
32
45.947.5
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Metro Nonmetro
Northeast Midwest South West U.S.
..
Top 20 Occupations Creating Most Jobs in
FLAssoc/Bachelor's HS/Short-Mid-Term Training
13.1%
86.9%
Ranking of Occupations Creating the Most
Employment, 1998-2008Rank Occupation Proj.
GrowthRate ofGrowth
(% )
1997Ave.
Earnings1 Retail sales 54,950 23 16,750
2 Cashiers 48,200 28 14,460
3 Gen. office clerks 44,100 24 21,130
4 Gen. managers & top execs. 42,250 23 NA
5 Truck drivers (light & heavy) 39,600 27 NA
6 RNs 32,550 27 44,840
7 Receptionists/ info. Clerks 29,750 33 20,040
8 Marketing & sales worker supervsors 27,800 19 27,510
9 Systems analyst 27,150 94 59,330
10 Janitors & cleaners 25,250 16 NA
Top 20 Fastest Growing Occupations in FL
Assoc/Bachelor's HS/Short-Moderate Training
53.8%
46.2%
Ranking of Top Fastest Growing Occupations
Rank Occupation Proj. Growth Rate of Growth (%)
1997 Ave. Earnings
1 Computer support spec. 22,300 106 $36,460
2 Systems analyst 27,150 94 $59,330
3 Desktop publishing specialists
700 82 $30,600
4 Computer engineers 8,600 73 $67,300
5 Hoist/winch operators 1,500 68 $29,960
6 Surgical technologists 2,400 67 $29,020
7 Paralegal/legal assistants 6,300 67 $35,360
8 Database administrators 2,300 62 $51,990
9 Medical assistants 10,950 61 $23,000
10 Packaging and filling machine operators
7,200 60 $19,660
New Job Slots Created, 1998-2008 in Florida
582,550
159,700
0
100000
200000
300000
400000
500000
600000
Top 20 Largest Number Top 20 Fastest
Top 20 Occupations Creating Most Jobs in
MSAssoc/Bachelor's HS/Short-Mid-Term Training
31.3%
68.7%
Ranking of Occupations in MS Creating the Most Employment,
1998-2008
Rank Occupation
Proj. Growth Rate of Growth (%)
1997 Ave. Earnings
1 Cashiers 6,820 18.0 $14,480
2 Retail salesperson 6,780 18.1 $17,970
3 Machine setters/set-up operators 3,890 9.5 $25,530
4 Registered nurses 3,770 18.0 $41,400
5 Gen. Managers/top executives 3,430 15.2 $60,960
6 Truck drivers 3,290 14.8 $28,580
7 General office clerks 2,800 14.2 $20,250
8 Nursing aides 2,760 19.8 $16,890
9 First line supervisors, sales and related 2,620 11.8 $33,950
10 All other sales and related 2,150 22.8 $25,740
Top 20 Fastest Growing Occupations in MS
Assoc/Bachelor's HS/Short-Moderate Training
59.6%
40.4%
Ranking of Top Fastest Growing Occupations
Rank Occupation Proj. Growth Rate of Growth (%)
1997 Ave. Earnings
1 Religious directors 20 100 $25,650
2 Travel clerks 10 100 $19,160
3 Electronic pagination system operators
110 91.7 $29,780
4 Paralegal personnel 870 73.1 $33,300
5 Computer science related 1,000 69.0 $47,450
6 Systems analyst 1,030 66.9 $51,360
7 Medical appliance makers 20 66.7 $26,030
8 Manucurists 50 62.5 $16,170
9 Dry cleaning spotters 30 60.0 $17,870
10 Home health aides 1,870 59.2 $17,290
New Job Slots Created, 1996-2005 in Mississippi
56,030
7,000
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
Top 20 Largest Number Top 20 Fastest