Survey shows uptick in hiring
ELKHORN — A job survey of 82 employers in Walworth County found that about one-third are hiring or are likely will hire in the near future.
"I think it is good news," said Marilyn Putz, manager of the Walworth County Job Center.
A hitch in the hiring trend is that 28 of the 82 employers said they were having difficulty finding job seekers with proper qualifications.
In addition, more than 60 percent in the survey indicated job seekers often lack basic work habits and skills, drive and experience.
Just months ago, the job market in Walworth County was flat, Putz said.
Indicators of job availability came in both anecdotal comments from job seekers landing interviews and from state unemployment figures. Unemployment rates fell from 11.4 percent in February 2010 to 9.5 percent last February, she said.
"What's hopeful is that the forecast for workers will continue to the end of 2011," she said. "It doesn't appear to be a short-term trend."
Positions most frequently mentioned included professional/technical employees, machine operators and repairers, computer numerically controlled operators, administrative and office employees, supervisory/management employees and engineers.
The survey was administered by the Walworth County Workforce Development Board and the Walworth County Economic Development Alliance.
The ability to quickly match a workforce to the needs of a manufacture is what ultimately lures firms to an area, said Mike Van Den Bosch, executive director for the Economic Development Alliance.
The alliance is a 6-year-old public-private partnership. It's the marketing arm that convinces businesses to move to Walworth County.
"It generally comes down to the availability of a workforce," Van Den Bosch said. "Incentives (from government) and (lower) taxes only go so far."
Putz said the agencies would closely examine the surveys and contact responding companies to determine what specific skills they will need in workers.
Workforce development will then try to identify the unemployed who have skills that fill employers' needs, she said.
The next step will be to identify people who likely can be trained to fill job openings, she said. Partnerships to build training programs likely will be created, she said.
Gateway Technical College will be central to putting the training, Van Den Bosch said.
It's likely that training will be done at worksites with the assistance of Gateway, he said.
A Gateway spokesperson was unavailable.
"We're working on our way to doing that effectively," he said. "Gateway does that in Racine in Kenosha. We're still trying to develop that relationship."
Apr 13, 2011 at 6:17 p.m.
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Times are hard, while its unfortunate there aren't GM type paying jobs out there people need to work. We can't afford people to sit at home and expect the government to support them since they can't afford to fill their gas guzzling Tahoe and make 27 dollars an hour. They may need to buy a fuel efficent car or car pool. I recently lost my job (thanks for the person here who wished that on me, best thing that ever happened to me) and found another within a month. It pays way less but I will make due without crying about it. Suck it up people, this is the new economy, too many of you have been on the dole too long. Alot of you complain about prices and not wanting to pay your teachers because your broke, but you have the best cell phone, newest name brand clothes, newest gaming machine etc. but you don't want to pay your own way or make sacrifices like responsible adults. The world don't owe you a thing except a pay check for work you perform.
Apr 13, 2011 at 4:29 p.m.
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Fear -- quit whining.... have some government free cheese with that whine.
The reality is and I m not saying you specifically -- but people claim to work long hours, they claim to be dedicated yada yada yada..... Then I watch them stand around the water cooler and yap about kids, life, husbands etc.... Hours are spent on personal matters and work doesnt get done. The reality is, that personal life is just part of what happens in a work day. But many of the people I meet claim they work hard and in reality they spend allot of time socializing. Thats not work, but they will never admit how much time they waste.
Apr 13, 2011 at 4:06 p.m.
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The Rock County Job Center will host a series of three industry-focused fairs this month. For more information, visit http://www.swwdb.org/jobfairs.htm.
Apr 13, 2011 at 3:15 p.m.
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paycheck.
Apr 13, 2011 at 3:14 p.m.
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PT- How ridiculous it is that anyone would see 55 as "old" seeing that a LOT of people are willing to work way past 65 as long as they aren't treated like a dog.
They seem to have every line in the book...Either a person doesn't have "experience" or is "too old".....they sure like that line that they "can't find" people.
Another thing...A lot of them like to harp about how much it costs to provide medical benefits but no one seems to offer jobs with just a good pa
Apr 13, 2011 at 2:27 p.m.
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I have 30+ years in the Professional / Skilled Trades arena and am willing to work for whatever anyone is willing to pay me as long as there are some sort of health benefits attached to the position.. I’ve been trying for almost a year now, and have sent my Resume to just about every job posting that there talking about in that area.. Haven’t had a single interview or reply…………… Because I’m 55 years old……… So much for experience..
Apr 13, 2011 at 2:01 p.m.
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I hope no one thinks I was being sarcastic, I was not.......There are lots of ignorant and lazy people in the "employer" category.
Apr 13, 2011 at 1:20 p.m.
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Truth- Good question, but I know MANY! Not everyone just busts their butt to get ahead, many just inherit it, or they know someone. I know a TON of employers that are a JOKE!
Apr 13, 2011 at 1:18 p.m.
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Ya if you get sick , just come to work get everyone else sick. Because if you get sick and stay home we sure as hell arent going to compennsate you! Just be tough!
I'll bet that most of these jobs will be less than 10 bucks an hour. Is that sustainable job growth? That wont even get you to work and back with the price of fuel. Not only will there NOT be 250,000 jobs here, there will be a net LOSS of jobs(there already is!)
Hows about the 130 jobs that will be cut in Janesville alone? Do they count?
Partisan politics=predictable BS, not one of you have any original Ideas, other than "suck it up". You are all so tough it makes me laugh. I worked at a job over 75 hours a week for 10+ years that continued to pay me less for more hours worked! I called in sick 2 times in 10 years, what did I get for that? NOTHING! This country is involved in a sincere race to the bottom, and all of you participate, congrats tuffies, way to allow your media sources to help wreck the country. YAAY! More money less insurance! No sick time! More hours , less salary. No soc security, no medicare. USA, USA, USA!! I cant wait till any of you righties NEED some help , be it medically or financially, you will be singing a MUCH different tune then! But by then it will be too late, we will have trained a whole new generation of greedy young folks to say" MINE" not yours! If your sick, pay for it or DIE! We need to fight meaningless wars instead.
Apr 13, 2011 at 1:10 p.m.
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What I really want to know is how ignorant and lazy people get in a position to be "employers"....The ignorance and laziness must have developed over time is all I can figure.
Apr 13, 2011 at 1:05 p.m.
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saxcat... that was sarcasm on my part. i had just read the article on how Milwaukee County's sick pay law was struck down and all of the people who were outraged by it.
Apr 13, 2011 at 12:19 p.m.
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if your not willing to work for the offered pay, you are not a qualified employee. and @smoothie, why should someone get paid if they are not there to do the work.
Apr 13, 2011 at 12:13 p.m.
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I hear there are 250,000 more just like these on the horizon!
Apr 13, 2011 at 11:40 a.m.
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I wonder how many of these jobs offer sick pay?
Apr 13, 2011 at 11:24 a.m.
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nugnrose and westorbust- EXCELLENT posts......EXACTLY right......and I'm generally a "conservative".
Some articles are full of lies, lies, and more lies.
Apr 13, 2011 at 8:26 a.m.
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What a joke. I read these articles and wonder what planet these so called "employers" are living on. Try getting an interview after being laid off and out of work for a year or so. I can't tell you how many "what have you been doing for the last year", I had gotten while looking. What do you think? Looking for a job, dingbat. Fed up with that, I started my own business.
Gateway Tech? you couldn't pay me to attend that farce again.
Apr 13, 2011 at 7:23 a.m.
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This article is a joke. "We can't find qualified employees" Let me rephrase that: "We can't find qualified employees that will work for $9-10/hour, supply their own tools, and work 12 hour shifts". Look at the employment ads coming out of Walworth County, they demand years of experience and skills but don't want to pay for them. Add in the cost of gas and then ask yourself why these great job opportunities aren't being filled.
Apr 12, 2011 at 6:02 p.m.
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There is really no reason to assume that someone is unemployable. Its simply a matter of retraining and an attitude change. If you used to work in a factory... if you had good attendance and a few references, you are employable. It might not be in your given field of choice, but it is exciting to take on a new adventure! Instead of looking at a "glass half empty" - take a serious look at your OWN opportunities, remove the "political idiots" and work towards something new. Step outside the "box", you may find a brand new career... and enjoy the experience!
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