E Newsletter August 2007
New Survey Shows Hiring Prospects Good Across Multiple Industries -- Job Openings Increase 53% and Employers Project 6% Employment Increase Next Year
Finger Lakes Wired 2007 Job Skills and Job Vacancy Survey indicates that the economy has improved since 2004 and that hiring prospects are good throughout the region in a variety of industries.
“This is good news,” said Matthew Hurlbutt, Managing Director of Finger Lakes Wired. “The results clearly show that individuals with key skills can find employment now in the region.”
“The picture also looks good for the near future. Employers we surveyed project a six percent increase in employment a year from now totaling 72,993 over current employment totaling 68,763.”
Francine Miller, HR Manager at Paychex, Inc., is optimistic about hiring this year. In the last several years the locally-based payroll and human resource services provider has had at least a six percent growth in hiring companywide year over year. She feels the company is on course to do the same in the year to come.
“We have positions available and... we do have openings at various levels from entry level to more experienced positions,” Miller said.
Some of those openings range from customer service, call center and inside sales jobs to more specialized positions such as IT, quality assurance, development, software testing, and accounting and finance related jobs.
“In general the Rochester talent pool is fairly lucrative for us for most of the positions we hire,” Miller said.
The survey was conducted for Finger Lakes Wired in May by Rochester Business Alliance (RBA). It was a follow-up to the 2004 study by the Wadley-Donovan Group and RBA reported at the 2004 RochesterWorks! Workforce Summit .
One hundred sixty five employers representing a broad cross-section of industries were surveyed. Eight-five percent of respondents were located in Monroe County. Manufacturing was the largest single industry represented (43%) in the study.
“The survey gives us essential information on current openings in the region and direct feedback from employers regarding the skills of current applicants,” added Hurlbutt. “That information helps us better assist in recruiting and training job seekers, improve placement and support business growth.”
Survey Highlights
Current and Future Labor Needs
Based on 65 benchmark positions.
- Current total openings reported by respondents: 2,494 - up 53% from 1,627 openings in 2004
- Anticipated number of openings in 6 months: 2,418
- Anticipated openings 1 year from now: 2,772 - up 70% from 1,627 openings 2004
Current Labor Needs
Top 10 positions in ranked order (high to low) as compared to 2004:
2007 |
2004 |
Registered nurses |
Engineers |
Customer service representatives |
Machine operator/no setup |
Technicians, other |
Sales representatives |
Licensed practical nurses |
Bench assemblers |
Physicians |
Registered nurses |
Engineers |
Management/experienced |
Office/clerical |
Clerical workers with advanced computer skills |
Bench assemblers |
Licensed practical nurses |
Sales representatives |
Customer service representatives |
Management, experienced |
Technicians |
Labor Needs in Six Months
Top 10 positions in ranked order (high to low):
- Registered nurses
- Customer service representatives
- Technicians, other
- Licensed practical nurses
- Bench assemblers
- Physicians
- Engineers
- CNC machine operators
- Management, experienced
- Machine operators, no setup
Labor Needs in One Year
Top 10 positions in ranked order (high to low) as compared to 2004:
2007 |
2004 |
Customer service representatives |
Registered nurses |
Registered nurses |
Clerical workers with advanced computer skills |
Bench assemblers |
Bench assemblers |
Technicians, other |
Customer service representatives |
Licensed practical nurses |
Machinists/manufacturing mechanic |
Engineers |
Sales representatives |
Machine operators, no setup |
Food servers |
Physicians |
Engineers |
Call center agents/representatives |
Licensed practical nurses |
Management, experienced |
Medical secretaries |
Applicant Skill Levels
Based on 65 benchmark positions. No comparative 2004 data.
Skill Category |
Average Skill Level
(5-Excellent, 1-Poor) |
Basic Computer Skills |
4 |
Advanced Computer Skills |
3 |
Basic Reading/Writing/Math Skills |
4 |
Accounting Knowledge |
3 |
Written Communications |
4 |
Technical Skills |
4 |
Mechanical Aptitude |
3 |
Skill Category |
% of Applicants with Average or Better Aptitude
(Rank 3, 4 or 5)
|
Percent of Applicants with Below Average Aptitude
(Rank 1 or 2)
|
Basic reading/Writing/Math Skills |
91% |
9% |
Basic Computer Skills |
85% |
15% |
Written Communications |
82% |
18% |
Technical Skills |
82% |
18% |
Mechanical Aptitude |
75% |
25% |
Advanced Computer Skills |
57% |
44% |
Accounting Knowledge |
56% |
44% |
