WORKFORCE AVAILABILITY AND ASSETS

Labor Availability:

• Low median age – 33.3 years
• High concentration of residents below age 18 – beneficial for potential future labor resources.
• High concentration of residents ages 35-54 - reflecting an experienced labor force.
• High percentage increase in residents age 18-24 projected between
• 2006 -2011 – prime group that includes the talented young, new-economy-oriented workers, and entrepreneurs.
• Percentage of residents with 12-15 years of education higher than the US average, a key cohort for employer recruiting.
• Satisfactory-to-good availability of general business and office support skill, management trainees, production supervisors, and unskilled laborers.
• Potential hidden labor supply of 7,618, including the not-employed, underemployed, and recent college graduates.
• Portions of the employed (37%) and not-employed (71%) are interested in continued education and training for new jobs.
• Labor availability is strongest in office-related operations.

Labor Quality:

• Good to very good work ethic and productivity, with strong willingness to work overtime, and favorable employer-employee relations.

Training and Education:

• Great Basin College enrolls 3,095 students and conferred 14 certificates, and 156 associates and 64 bachelor’s degrees.
• Great Basin College works with area employers and offers various workforce-training programs.

Labor Costs:

• Mining wages are some of the highest in the state, but non-mining private-sector employee earnings are lower than statewide norms and virtually equal to national norms - illustrating an opportunity for non-mining companies that can offer better wages.
• Not-employed residents interested in employment would be willing to enter the workforce for an annual wage less that the Elko County average wage.

Class of Workers
According to the most recent Census Bureau, 78 percent of Elko County workers are employed in the private sector, 16 percent in government agencies, 5 percent are self-employed and 1 percent are unpaid workers. 23 percent hold management or professional positions, 22 percent are in service jobs, 21 percent are in sales/office jobs, 20 percent in construction and 11 percent are in production/transportation positions.

© 2001 - 2008 ECEDA - Elko County Economic Diversification Authority
723 Railroad Street ~ Elko, NV 89801
Phone: (775) 738-2100 ~ Toll Free: 1-866-937-3556 ~ Fax: (775) 738-7978

Executive Director: Elaine Barkdull Spencer
E-Mail: elaine@eceda.com


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