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In a recent business survey, several employers in St. Joseph cited the local workforce as one of the area's strong points. It's a perception shared elsewhere. St. Joseph workers are often described as typifying a Midwestern or rural ethic that appreciates hard work, high productivity, low absenteeism and little turnover. St. Joseph workers also bring a solid educational résumé. Nearly 82 percent of the area's adult population has a high school education or better. The high school dropout rate is the lowest in the state at 12 percent. More than 17 percent of St. Joseph workers have a bachelor's degree or better. If workers need training, it's readily available. Hillyard Technical Center, Vatterott College and Missouri Western State College offer programs for high school students and adults. Funding is also available for on-site training. Three St. Joseph firms were recently part of a $1.7 million grant for employee training. The area's unemployment rate remains consistent at around 5 percent. This creates a pool of available workers that can be bolstered by surrounding communities in both Kansas and Missouri. A recent study for the St. Joseph Area Chamber of Commerce found that the average area employee earned $14.90 per hour or $31,000 annually. More than 19,000 were found to be available for work, either unemployed, underemployed or actively seeking another job. Twenty-one percent possess a Bachelor's degree or higher while 46 percent possess a high school diploma, compared to state average of 32 percent. Last summer the fourth annual St. Joseph Workforce Development Summit met to discuss the area's workforce and steps to support its enhancement. One of St. Joe's many partnerships, the workforce summit is part of the workforce development "St. Joseph, A City Building Character," which also includes efforts by the school district, Missouri Western State College and St. Joseph Area Chamber of Commerce. |
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