QUARTERLY REPORT LENAWEE COUNTY Q 2015

QUARTERLY REPORT
LENAWEE COUNTY Q 2015
SUMMARY
LENAWEE Q 2015 DEMAND OVERVIEW
The labor force and employment both decreased at a rate of 1.8% between Q2 and Q3 2015. The
labor force dropped to 47,386 individuals (down 882) while employment decreased to 45,005 workers
(down 837). Since both fell at the same rate, employment remained at 5.0%, just below the state
average of 5.4%.
Despite the decrease, 2015 average employment has surpassed previous annual averages.
Meanwhile, should the labor force increase in Q4—as it historically has in Lenawee County—the 2015
average should be on par with 2014.
Online postings in Lenawee County experienced minimal growth between Q2 and Q3 2015. Online
ads in the county increased from 1,030 in Q2 to 1,035 in Q3. Postings have generally been increasing
since a historic low of 268 in Q4 2012. Ads in Lenawee County have now averaged near 1,000 over the
past five quarters. The lack of sudden drop-offs in postings is a welcomed sign of economic stability
in the county.
Seven of the top ten occupations from Q2 remained in the top ten for Q3 2015. Occupations that fell
out included health technologists, supervisors of production workers, and customer service
representatives. New to the top ten were physical therapists, cashiers, and food preparation workers.
Truck drivers remained the most in-demand occupation in Lenawee County despite postings being
cut in half between quarters. Retail & Hospitality dominated online postings in the county during Q3
2015 with six of the top ten in-demand occupations.
*This report includes top jobs and postings over time highlights for clusters that have made major shifts or
movements 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.
TOP JOBS Q 2015
ANALYSIS
Seven of the top ten
occupations from Q2
remained in the top ten for
Q3 2015. New to the top
ten were physical
therapists, cashiers, and
food preparation workers.
Truck drivers remained the
most in-demand
occupation in Lenawee
County despite postings
being cut in half between
quarters.
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HIGHLIGHTS
IT POSTINGS OVER TIME
ANALYSIS
Online ads for the
Information Technology
cluster bounced back after
a drop during Q2 2015.
Postings nearly doubled
from 23 in Q2 to 44 in Q3
(+91%). The 44 online ads
during Q3 marked a
historic high in Lenawee
County, surpassing the
record of 35 in Q1 2015.
SKILLED TRADE & TECHNICIAN POSTINGS OVER TIME
ANALYSIS
Online postings for the
Skilled Trades occupation
cluster increased for a
third consecutive quarter
during Q3 2015. Postings
jumped from 52 in Q2 to
75 in Q3 (+44%). The 75
online ads during Q3 2015
for Skilled Trades nearly
surpassed the historic
high of 76 in Q3 2011.
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LABOR MARKET OVERVIEW
EMPLOYMENT & LABOR FORCE
ANALYSIS
The labor force and
employment both
decreased at a rate of
1.8% between Q2 and Q3
2015. The labor force
dropped to 47,386
individuals (down 882)
while employment
decreased to 45,005
workers (down 837).
Since both fell at the
same rate, employment
remained at 5.0%, just
below the state average
of 5.4%.
TOTAL POSTINGS OVER TIME
ANALYSIS
Online postings in
Lenawee County
experienced minimal
growth between Q2 and
Q3 2015. Online ads in
the county increased
from 1,030 in Q2 to
1,035 in Q3. Postings
have generally been
increasing since a
historic low of 268 in Q4
2012.
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POSTING TRENDS BY CLUSTER
ANALYSIS
Online postings increased for half of the six occupation clusters analyzed by WIN in Lenawee
County during Q3 2015. A boost in ads for Retail & Hospitality occupations largely drove the
minimal growth seen in overall postings for the county. Online postings also increased for
the Skilled Trades and IT clusters. Retail & Hospitality continued to dominate online postings
with 28.4% share of total postings during Q3 2015.
Combined, the six clusters analyzed by WIN accounted for 62.2% of all online ads in
Lenawee County during Q3 2015.
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TOP JOBS BY CLUSTER
SKILLED TRADE & TECHNICIAN TOP JOBS
ANALYSIS
Seven of the top ten Skilled
Trades occupations from Q2
remained in the Q3 top ten.
New to the top ten were
structural metal fitters, water
treatment plant operators,
and packaging operators while
CC tool operators, dental lab
technicians and gas plant
operators fell out. Postings for
welders increased from 2 in
Q2 to 13 in Q3; this occupation
is now the most in-demand of
the Skilled Trade cluster in
Lenawee County.
HEALTH CARE TOP JOBS
ANALYSIS
Unlike surrounding counties,
registered nurses was not
the most in-demand Health
Care occupation in Lenawee
County during Q3 2015.
Postings for this occupation
decreased from 52 in Q2 to
27 in Q3, possibly indicating
that employers successfully
filled open positions in the
county. Physical therapists
was the most in-demand
Health Care occupation
during Q3 after postings
tripled from 8 in Q2 to 27 in
Q3.
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TOP JOBS BY CLUSTER
ENGINEER & DESIGNER TOP JOBS
ANALYSIS
Industrial engineers
remained the most indemand Engineer & Designer
occupation in Lenawee
County despite postings
dropping from 15 in Q2 to 12
in Q3. This was the only
Engineering occupation to
experience double-digit ads
in both Q2 and Q3.
Continued low postings
numbers for other engineer
occupations indicate that
employer demand is not
high in Lenawee County.
RETAIL & HOSPITALITY TOP JOBS
ANALYSIS
The top three Retail &
Hospitality occupations from
Q2 remain unchanged in Q3.
Retail salespersons
continued to top the list with
53 ads in Q3. Three of the
top ten R&H occupations
were for supervisor or
managerial positions,
indicating job advancement
for experienced workers in
this cluster.
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