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North Dakota’s unemployment rate averages 3.0 percent. This low unemployment rate is deceiving, for North Dakota has a significant amount of underemployed workers.
For example, Marvin Windows and Doors needed 60 employees for a new facility. The company had to stop accepting applications after 550 people responded.
Buhler Tractor Plant began advertising positions that might be available with pay of $8.50-$15.00 per hour. The company, aware of North Dakota’s low jobless rate, was concerned that it might not be able to hire enough skilled workers (assemblers, welders and mechanics). Nearly 600 qualified applicants responded to the ad.
North Dakota’s underemployed represent potential workers. They are individuals working in a job well below their skill level or training. Several North Dakota communities conducted labor availability studies in November 2002. The average number of job seekers – or underemployed workers – in these communities was 28 percent.
Another North Dakota community conducted a survey of its existing workforce and found the following:
- Sixty-three percent of all potential job seekers have some training or education beyond high school;
- Nearly 90 percent of all survey respondents has achieved their high school diploma (or equivalent);
- Over 30 percent of the survey respondents had at least a four-year college degree; and
- Over 30 percent of the survey respondents had undergone some training in the last three years.
Click here to view Labor Availability Studies.
For additional information about any of these productivity issues or to have one of our business development consultants answer specific questions reagarding your project, contact us at 1-866-4dakota or 701-328-5300.
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