Land, labor and capital are the primary factors of production for any economy. In the 21st century, labor has become a priority factor for rural economies working on business attraction and expansion in their regions. Ensuring a viable labor pool is a leading factor for businesses contemplating relocation or expansion. This has placed K-12 education and the role of community colleges at the forefront of economic development conversations as these public institutions are responsible for creating the workforce pipeline. This region is more fortunate than most rural communities in that it has supported the evolution of Yavapai College to become a leading educator in both professional and vocational careers. Educational partnerships among primary, secondary and post-secondary educational institutions and various industry sectors are illuminating existing discrepancies and designing solutions that create job-driven educational programming.
In order to prepare for the future, we must understand our past. Looking at the change in jobs over time, cross-referenced with the location quotient and competitive effect per sector can begin to tell the story of where we have an advantage for producing certain goods or services. Further referencing regional imports and out of region supply chain purchasing identifies the greatest demand for products and services in the area. With this information, communities may narrow their focus and leverage public and private sector resources to achieve the greatest return on investment and create effective workforce investment initiatives.
The top employment sectors across the Quad Cities area as of 2014 data include Healthcare and Social Assistance with 7,035 jobs, Retail Trade with 6,296 jobs, Accommodation & Food Services with 3,365 jobs, and Manufacturing with 2,430 jobs. The Other Services sector comprises approximately 2,232 jobs and are the small businesses engaged in activities, such as equipment and machinery repairing, promoting or administering religious activities, grant-making, advocacy and providing dry cleaning and laundry services, personal care services, death care services, pet care services, photofinishing services, temporary parking services and dating services.
Over the past five years, the leading occupations that have experienced growth in the Quad Cities area outside of retail and food/accommodation occupations are Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations at a five percent growth rate, Healthcare Support and Personal Care and Service, experiencing six percent and five percent growth respectively, Production and Installation, Maintenance and Repair occupations in manufacturing with a 14 percent and seven percent growth respectively, and Community and Social Service occupations (including counselors and social workers), which experienced an 11 percent growth. Location quotients, which ratio the distribution of labor in your region compared to the quantity of labor in that sector at a national level, show that the Quad Cities area has a greater percentage of its labor force in healthcare related occupations, installation, maintenance and repair occupations, sales occupations, and community and social service jobs then the country does as a whole. Not to be neglected, management occupations have also grown in demand by two percent over the past five years, and this rate is expected to increase over time as various industry sectors grow in the area, all of which require management jobs.
The Quad Cities show a competitive effect in manufacturing related occupations, sales related occupations, and community and social service occupations. This means that the Quad Cities experienced growth in jobs for these fields that went beyond the expected growth due to industry growth and growth in the overall national economy.
Yavapai County’s unique characteristics have motivated collaborations between educators and industry leaders. These partnerships create a symbiotic system for workforce development in the 21st century. Sustaining these efforts will carry our community into the future and ensure a thoughtful and meaningful approach to workforce development and education in the 21st century. Yavapai College, Prescott Chamber of Commerce, AZ Department of Economic Security, and Goodwill Industries have partnered to produce the 2015 Quad Cities Area Job Fair, a resource for employers and job seekers. In effort to better prepare job seekers for the event partner organizations have prepared a series of workshops on resume writing and interviewing techniques. The 2015 Quad Cities Area Job Fair is scheduled for Friday, March 27, at the Yavapai College Prescott Campus from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For a listing of workshops and registration information, please see yc.edu/REDC. QCBN
By Alexandria M. Wright, Director Yavapai College Regional Economic Development Center
**The Yavapai College Regional Economic Development Center provides analysis and services that facilitate economic development throughout Yavapai County and build wealth in our local communities.
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