Iowa’s Creative Corridor Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey 2015 Iowa City Area Development Group and the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance 1

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Table of Contents Executive Summary3 Companies Participating4 Survey Responses5-47 2

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Executive Summary Starting in 2010, the Iowa City Area Development (ICAD) Group started sending a small, comprehensive workforce survey as an addendum to our annual existing industry interviews conducted with Synchronist. The aim was to collect more data as it related to the limited workforce questions already posed in the Synchronist battery. Specifically, this survey, targeted to local executives and HR professionals, compiles quantitative and qualitative data regarding workforce recruitment, culture and retention, diversity, education and skills, internships and workforce recruitment through the military. While not a scientific sample, this survey points economic development agencies in the region in the right direction. With these answers and examples, we are better prepared to investigate immediate workforce challenges and opportunities and innovate programs to meet future demand. This year’s survey was conducted from July 2015 to October Interstate commerce companies throughout the seven county region known as Iowa’s Creative Corridor were contacted by mail, e‐mail and in person to complete the web‐based survey. Forty‐four companies responded this year. These companies, listed on page 3, represent 10,953 jobs in Iowa’s Creative Corridor. 3

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Companies Participating ACH Foam TechnologiesACT, Inc. CDS GlobalCentro, Inc. City of Cedar RapidsCity of Coralville City of MarionClickstop CompleWare CorporationConAgra Foods Cedar Rapids Plant Diamond VDuPont F&M BankFreund-Vector Corporation GE CapitalGenova Technologies Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa Western IllinoisGreater Iowa City Area HBA IAC (International Automotive Components)IDx LLC Integrated DNA TechnologiesIowa Fluid Power KazooKinze Manufacturing, Inc. Leepfrog Technologies, Inc.Loparex Midwest Metal ProductsMidWestOne Bank MMS Consultants, Inc.PMX Industries, Inc. Radiology ProtcolsRiverside Casino & Golf Resort Robert Half AccountempsRobert Half Technology SculptSedgwick CMS StamatsThe Gazette Company Thompson Truck & TrailerToyota Financial Services TSF Structures, Inc.United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) West Music CompanyXerxes Corporation 4

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 4 In the past year, at your facility, how many new hires were: Position# of Positions Non-management - Hourly (approx #) 1,245 Non-management - Salaried (approx #) 411 Other management (e.g., directors, managers) (approx #) 140 Executive/upper management (approx #) 16 Contract/Temp Usage (approx #) 284 n = 38 5

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 3 In the past year, at your facility, how many total new hires? Across 37 companies, their hires totaled 1,746 n = 37 6

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 6 As of today, what's your current number of unfilled positions? Across 38 companies, their unfilled positions total 1,245 7

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 7 Currently, which position(s) are the most challenging to fill (select all that apply)? n = 32 8

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 8 Currently, which position(s) are the most challenging to fill (select all that apply)? n = 33 9

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 10, 11 and 12 Did any of these salaried or management level hires have trailing family members that were also looking for work? Did they need assistance? If so, what services or guidance did you provide? Did this have an impact on their decision to relocate to Iowa's Creative Corridor? n = 30 10

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 15 For all facilities in the Corridor, do you anticipate the % of new hires from OUTSIDE the area will be… n = 36 11

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 16 For all facilities in the Corridor, do you anticipate the % of recent college grads you will hire to be… n = 36 12

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 17 On a scale of 1-7 how difficult do you think it is to attract candidates from OUTSIDE the region? (1 being not difficult, 4 difficult and 7 very difficult) n = 35 13

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 18 On a scale of 1-7, how challenging are the following factors when attracting talent from OUTSIDE of Iowa's Creative Corridor? 14

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 19 What have you found to be your best tools or strategies for attracting talent from OUTSIDE the region? Please provide 2. 15

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 20 Within your Corridor facilities, at any time have you hired members of the military who are transitioning to civilian work? If yes, do you know how many current members of your staff are former military? Among 33 employers, they have 196 former military n = 33 16

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 24 What are the top 2 reasons salaried and management level employees leave your company? 17

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 25 What are the top 2 reasons hourly, contract and/or temporary employees leave your company? 18

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 26 How many of your employees are retirement eligible? n = 31 19

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 27 What are the top 2 reasons people stay at your company? 20

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 28 What do your employees value most? 21 n = 26

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 31 For those employees you do not retain what is the most common length of employment? (When do you most commonly lose people?) n = 29 22

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 33 Does your company have a formal diversity initiative or employee resource group (ERG) to aid in retention? If yes, please explain. n = 29 23

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 34 Are a majority of your diverse employees... n = 31 24

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 36 Does your organization have an internship program (click all that apply)? n = 30 25

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 37 In the past year, approximately how many interns have you had on staff? n = 17 26

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 38 What are the primary benefits your company associates with your internship program? Please select all that apply: n = 17 27

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 39 On a scale of 1-7, please rate the following characteristics of interns at your organization. n = 16 28

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 40 Over the next 3 years, do you anticipate the use of interns at your organization to be… n = 17 29

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 41 Which schools do you rely on the most? Please list the top three schools below. 30

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 43 What challenges do you attribute to managing or establishing an internship program? 31

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 44 In general, what basic skills/knowledge gaps do job applicants have in your industry? Please select all that apply. n = 23 32

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 45 Specifically, what ADVANCED SKILLS gaps do job applicants have in your industry? 33

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 46 Are you hiring or do you anticipate a need for employees who speak a foreign language? n = 30 34

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 47 Which foreign language(s) specifically? 1.Spanish 2.Arabic 3.French 4.Hindi 5.Japanese 6.Norwegian n = 11 35

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 50 How are your current employee training programs being met? n = 30 36

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 51 Over the next 12 months, what are your top 3 workforce priorities? n = 23 37

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Question 52 There are multiple workforce development programs currently available in Iowa's Creative Corridor. n = 29 38

Synchronist Supplemental Workforce Survey Contact Information DaLayne Williamson, PHR/GPHR, SHRM-SCP Workforce Business Services Director Iowa City Area Development Group 319/ Allison Antes Workforce Strategist Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance 319/