1. Employer Needs, Hot Jobs, & New Tools
Jeff DeBellis
Director of Economic & Policy Analysis, LEAD
NC Department of Commerce

2. NC’s primary source of economic & labor market data, information, & analysis
Produce monthly jobs & unemployment numbers, quarterly industry/wage data, & occupational statistics on behalf of BLS
Support the state’s workforce / economic development systems & policy makers
Who is LEAD?

3. Agenda 2016 Employer Needs Survey 2017 Star Jobs &
LATE NEWS…
2016 Employer Needs Survey
BREAKING NEWS…
2017 Star Jobs &
2024 Regional Employment Projections
COMING SOON…
Open Data Portal
Agenda

4. Full Report at

5. Survey Overview Update & enhancement of 2014 survey
1,900 surveys collected overall
78% response rate
all sized companies
all 100 counties participated
Phone interviews by NCSU
(Center for Urban Affairs & Community Services)
Focus on four industries: Manufacturing, Construction, Healthcare, and STEM
Survey Overview

6. Survey Goals Assess hiring difficulties of North Carolina employers
Understand employers’ needs & recruitment strategies
Understand job vacancies & hiring demand
Survey Goals

7. Overview Trends Difficulties – skills & otherwise Recruitment
Industry differences
Overview

8. Trends Compared to 2014… Hiring remains strong – same as 2014
Hiring difficulties still exist
Still no difference between urban & rural counties
Top 3 reasons for difficulties remain
Increase in citing soft skills difficulty
Trends Compared to 2014…

9. Hiring employers who had difficulty filling at least one position in the past year
Trends Compared to 2014*
Statistically similar to despite a more competitive market
70% said difficulties are “about same as last year”
11% perceive improving
19% perceive declining
* Comparing only those w/ 10+ employees

10. Work Experience
Education,
Certification, Training
Technical Skills
Soft Skills
Criminal Record
Low Pay
Failed Drug Screening
Hiring Difficulties *among all hiring employers experiencing difficulties

11. Hiring Difficulties among all hiring employers by Industry
* Healthcare difficulty mostly in establishments w/ 10+ employees

12. Top Reasons for Hiring Difficulties by Industry
Many Similarities Between Industries
Technical or Occupation-Related Skills
Relevant Work Experience
Education Level, Certification, or Training
Some Differences
Soft Skills - STEM
Failing a Drug Test - Manufacturing & Construction
Low Pay - Healthcare
Top Reasons for Hiring Difficulties by Industry

13. Other Reasons for Hiring Difficulties
Lack of work ethic, dependability issues
Low number of applicants, rural location, transportation
Lack of interest in industry/occupation
Negative characteristics of workplace or job
Increased competition due to improved economy
Inability to offer higher wages
Other Reasons for Hiring Difficulties
22% said “Other”, a lot of variation w/in that, but here are some common ones

14. Hiring Difficulty by Position Experience Required
Among the Four Industries…
Entry-level positions much easier to fill
The more experience needed, the greater hiring difficulty
58% of “experienced” positions are very difficult to fill
Experience Gap ?
Hiring Difficulty by Position Experience Required
Entry
Mid
Experienced*
Manufacturing
23%
30%
50%
Construction
33%
38%
65%
Health Care
13%
15%
STEM
10%
14%
62%
* Experienced positions = or more years experience

15. Recruiting Resources all industries
Word of Mouth
Internet Job Boards
Company Websites
Community Colleges
Social Network Sites
Local Newspapers
Universities
NCWorks Online
NCWorks Career Center
Recruiting Resources all industries
18% Who Hired Used
Word of Mouth Exclusively
More Common Among Small Businesses
(<10 employees)

16. Skill Training Resources
On-the-Job Training
Private Vendors
Community Colleges
Universities
Apprenticeship Programs
On-the-Job Training
Private Vendors
Community Colleges
Universities
Apprenticeship Programs
Skill Training Resources
OJT: Area of Future Study
What level of On-the-Job Training is offered?
Types of training and for whom?
How many companies do not offer structured training?
60% use OJT exclusively

17. 45% of all organizations plan to hire in the next 12 months
61% with 10+ employees
30% of small employers (<10 employees)
Similar across all 4 industries
Hiring Outlook

18. Usefulness of this survey
Quantifies employer needs across all businesses / industries, not just the loudest voices
Can be used to determine if issues are improving or change with business cycle
Identifies workforce system opportunities (enhance apprenticeships & OJT?)
Usefulness of this survey

19. Limitations of this survey
Detailed skills are hard to quantify given the wide variation of industries and survey sample size
Can’t identify conditions at county / regional level sample size too small to make statistically significant statements
No perspective from job seekers why aren’t more individuals getting training in these occupations, applying at these companies, or choosing to work elsewhere (or not at all)
Limitations of this survey

20. Next Up Awaiting direction from NCWorks Commission
Core questions to stay the same w/ minor changes
May alter samples – by industry, size, geography
Anticipate partnering with Business Service Reps of the WDBs on next study
Anticipate conducting new survey in fall/winter 2017
Next report to be published Q1 2018
Next Up

21. 2024 Employment Projections & Star Jobs

22. Geographies based on Labor Markets

23. The Raleigh-Durham Sub-Region
In 2014*
Nearly 80% of region’s resident workers worked in the region
Over 75% of region’s jobs were taken by regional residents
39% of region’s jobs taken by Wake residents, % by Johnston
In 3Q 2016
57% of region’s private sector jobs were in Wake, % in Johnston
The Raleigh-Durham Sub-Region
* Private Sector, Primary Jobs only

24. Top 10 Industries with Most New Jobs thru 2024
Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services
Food Services & Drinking Places
Hospitals
Ambulatory Health Care
Educational Services
Administrative & Support Services
Specialty Trade Contractors
Local Government Excluding Education, Hospitals
Food & Beverage Stores
Amusement & Recreation

25. Top 10 Occupations with Most New Jobs thru 2024
Food Prep & Serving Workers
Registered Nurses
Retail Salespersons
Customer Service Reps
Home Health Aides
Waiters & Waitresses
Cashiers
Software App Developers
Nursing Assistants
Restaurant Cooks

26. Top 10 Fastest Growing Occupations thru 2024
Statisticians
Cartographers & Photogrammetrists
Credit Counselors
Personal Financial Advisors
Interpreters & Translators
Orthotists & Prosthetists
Nurse Practitioners
Web Developers
Physical Therapist Assistants
Physical Therapist Aides

27. Top 20 Star Jobs of 2017 Registered Nurses Software App Developers
General & Operations Managers
Accountants & Auditors
Computer Systems Analysts
Computer Support Specialists
Office & Administrative Support Supervisors
Market Research Analysts & Marketing Specialists
Management Analysts
Construction Trades Supervisors
Computer & IT Systems Managers
Lawyers
Electricians
Software Systems Developers
Personal Financial Advisors
Heating, Air Conditioning, & Refrigeration Mechanics
Fitness Trainers & Aerobics Instructors
Postsecondary Health Specialties Teachers
Insurance Sales Agents
Network & Computer System Admins
Top 20 Star Jobs of 2017

28. Tools

29. Current LEAD Data Tools
D4 originally designed for labor market customers (ESC)
AccessNC originally designed for economic developer (NC Commerce)
Current LEAD Data Tools

30. New Open Data Portal Will replace AccessNC & D4 Maintains data access
Download
Add visualizations
Allows live connections to data

31. Data Catalog 72 datasets and counting
Most available at county & WDB region levels
Export in multiple formats

32. Dashboards
Use pre-designed dashboards
Create your own

33. Visualizations & Maps
Manipulate data in the browser
Share results

34. Link & Embed

35. Thank You
Jeff DeBellis