QUARTERLY REPORT MONROE COUNTY Q1 2015

SUMMARY

Monroe County’s labor market has continued to grow steadily in the years since low of the 2010 recession. Employment reached a high of 67,869 in December 2014 with the 2014 average employment at 67,281 individuals. Between 2013 and 2014 the unemployment rate dropped from an average 7.9% to 6.5%. Total online job postings in Monroe County dropped this quarter from 1,834 in Q4 2014 to 1,557 in Q1 2015. Current levels are similar to those throughout late 2013 and most of 2014, other than Q4 2014 which was likely a holiday retail driven increase. While postings have dropped, they remain at levels above the average in 2011 and 2012 signaling that employers are either utilizing job postings at higher rates than before and/or that their hiring needs are greater. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers are once again the top posting job in Monroe County. While a few occupations grew in demand, the overall trend in postings in Monroe has been negative as the holiday boom from Q4 2014 has ended with food service and retail supervisory jobs on the decline. Cluster-specific postings did not follow a trend in Monroe County this quarter. Overall postings are down, mainly driven by retail & hospitality demand drops, but postings for engineers & designers and IT workers are up to higher levels than previously seen. Engineers & designers experienced the largest increase with 116% growth since Q4 2014.

The clusters analyzed by WIN in Monroe County represent 49.5% of all online job postings in the county.

ANALYSISHeavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers are once again the top posting job in Monroe County. This occupation maintained its top position yet postings fell from 148 in Q4 2014 to 83 in Q1 2015. Retail salespersons are the next most in-demand occupation in Monroe County with 61 postings in Q1 2015, which is no change from Q4 2014 levels (62). Postings also remained stagnant for the third most in-demand job; laborers and freight stock/material movers with 52 postings in both Q4 2014 and Q1 2015. While a few occupations grew in demand, the overall trend in postings in Monroe has been negative as the holiday boom from Q4 2014 has ended with food service and retail supervisory jobs on the decline.

TOP JOBS Q1 2015

MONROE Q1 2015 DEMAND OVERVIEW

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*This report includes top jobs and postings over time highlights for clusters that have made major shifts ormovements in the past quarter. The data is updated each quarter based on the clusters with the most noteworthy changes. For complete top jobs lists, educational attainment, and wage information, please see the regional reports or contact WIN's Research Director Colby Cesaro at colby.cesaro@win-semich.org.

HIGHLIGHTS

ANALYSIS

ANALYSIS

While many occupational clusters declined in employer demand from Q4 2014 to Q1 2015, engineer and designer occupations are on a strong upswing. Growing from 49 postings in Q4 2014, a low point, postings reached a new high at 106 in Q1 2015. More than doubling with 116% growth, engineering and design jobs are hot in Monroe County this quarter.

ENGINEER & DESIGNER POSTINGS OVER TIME

ANALYSIS

Retail & hospitality postings experienced a significant decline in Monroe County during Q1 2015 after maintaining higher levels throughout most of 2014. Postings fell 30% between Q4 2014 and Q1 2015 from 504 to 352. The lower levels are typical for Q1 in Monroe as retailers are not hiring as much after the holidays. As 22.6% of all online job ads in Monroe are for retail & hospitality positions, any major changes in posting levels affects overall demand.

RETAIL & HOSPITALITY POSTINGS OVER TIME

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LABOR MARKET OVERVIEW

ANALYSIS

ANALYSIS

ANALYSISMonroe County’s labor market has continued to grow steadily in the years since the 2010 recession low. Employment reached a high of 67,869 in December 2014 with the 2014 average employment at 67,281 individuals. This is a 2.2% increase over the 2013 average level of 65,814 individuals. The labor force is growing, however, the rate is not as rapid as employment. Employment growth has outpaced labor force growth resulting in an unemployment rate of 6.5% (2014 average). Between 2013 and 2014 the unemployment rate dropped from an average 7.9% to 6.5%.

EMPLOYMENT & LABOR FORCE

ANALYSISTotal online job postings in Monroe County dropped this quarter from 1,834 in Q4 2014 to 1,557 in Q1 2015. Current levels are similar to those throughout late 2013 and most of 2014, other than Q4 2014 which was likely a holiday retail driven increase. While postings have dropped, they remain at levels above the average in 2011 and 2012 signaling that employers are either utilizing job postings at higher rates than before and/or that their hiring needs are greater.

TOTAL POSTINGS OVER TIME

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POSTING TRENDS BY CLUSTER

ANALYSISCluster-specific postings did not follow a trend in Monroe County this quarter. Overall postings are down, mainly driven by retail & hospitality demand drops, but postings for engineers & designers and IT workers are up to higher levels than previously seen. Engineers & designers experienced the largest increase with 116% growth since Q4 2014. Information Technology also experienced 41% growth, from 64 postings in Q4 2014 to 90 in Q1 2015. Health care postings fell to record lows, with a drop to 105 in Q1 2015 from 127 in Q4 2014, a 17% decline. Approximately 55% of the drop in overall postings is explained by the decline in retail & hospitality demand.

The clusters analyzed by WIN in Monroe County represent 49.5% of all online job postings in the county.

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TOP JOBS BY CLUSTER

ANALYSIS

ANALYSIS

ANALYSISEngineer and designer jobs have taken off in Monroe County with 116% growth in the past quarter. The largest employer needs are for mechanical engineers, with 25 postings in Q1 2015, up from 16 in Q4 2014. The increase in demand for industrial engineers is remarkable as it has grown from 7 postings to 18 in the same time frame. Demand for electrical engineers is also high with 12 postings, up from 5 in Q4 2014. Demand for all engineering jobs is up across the board.

ENGINEER & DESIGNER TOP JOBS

ANALYSISPostings for CNC machinists in Monroe County grew between Q4 2014 and Q1 2015 from 9 postings (fifth most in-demand) to 16 postings (the top job in Q1 2015). Postings also grew for welders from 10 postings in Q4 2014 to 15 in Q1 2015. Skilled trade postings represent 6% of all online job ads in Monroe County.

SKILLED TRADE & TECHNICIAN TOP JOBS

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ANALYSISHealth care postings experienced a drop in Q1 2015 falling from 127 postings in Q4 2014 to 105 in Q1 2015. Like most WIN counties, registered nurses is the top posting health care position. In Monroe County this past quarter, there were 27 postings for registered nurses. Postings for nursing assistants remained stagnant with 15 postings in Q1 2015 (close to no change from 16 in Q4 2014). Postings for speech-language pathologists increased from 6 postings in Q4 2014 to 12 in Q1 2015 making it the third most in-demand health care job in Monroe.

HEALTH CARE TOP JOBS

ANALYSISRetail & hospitality job demand has fallen but is still an important occupational cluster in Monroe County, representing 23% of all online job ads. Postings for retail sales workers remained flat from Q4 2014 to Q1 2015 but the position moved into the top posting position. Postings for combined food preparation and serving workers fell from 64 postings (and the top job) in Q4 2014 to 25 postings in Q1 2015. Ads grew for sales representatives, wholesale/manufacturing, from 20 postings to 33, placing it in the number two spot. Postings for customer service representatives also dropped from 49 postings in Q4 2014 to 32 in Q1 2015, but the occupation maintained in third place position.

RETAIL & HOSPITALITY TOP JOBS

TOP JOBS BY CLUSTER

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