(September 30, 2008) As human capital planners, understanding regional, local, and industry workforce patterns is critical to our livelihoods. The practical application of the GeoWorkforce demographics gives our job-related knowledge a frame of reference and provides a context for recruiting, hiring, and training employees.
For example, wages and the cost of living are two important workforce dimensions-or local patterns- that are considered in every job search, as well as during hiring and placement.
Therefore, when involved in a new call-center recruitment initiative in upstate New York, it is valuable to know that the average weekly wage in administrative and support services in that county is about 13 percent less than the national average.
Like wage data, other geo-workforce demographics also provide valuable industry information.
For example, geo-skill demographics show that service orientation and social perceptiveness are two significant skills in financial back- and mid-office operations, like a call center. In addition, computer and administrative specialists, including programmers, system analysts, clerical support, tellers, telemarketers, and management personnel, are important to this type of call center.
Through the use of GIS technology (Geographic Information Systems), and by entering the call center's address and then requesting an analysis by specifying three different drive times, a local workforce pattern emerges. In this example, the results show that:
- Employment in both the business services and banking industries is well above the national average.
- There is a higher concentration of administrative service managers, bill and account collectors, tellers, and telemarketers, as well as other types of banking personnel, including financial clerks, based on the national average.
- A good place to begin recruiting for administrative and support talent is within a 20 miles radius of the call center.
- Employment in all of the computer specialist occupations is less concentrated than the national average.
- Employment in programming, which is a technical geo-skill demographic, is also less concentrated.
- Recruitment strategies have to be developed based on these computer occupation and programming skill shortages.
As the above indicates, the use of these geo-workforce demographics combined with one's existing human resource knowledge and tools provides a broader understanding of the dimensions of any local workforce.
Theresa Clary is CEO of Workforce Strategies, Inc. The company's geo-workforce demographics are delivered through a partnership with ESRI, the world's largest GIS technology company.