The Ulster County Development Corporation (UCDC) and the Ulster County Office of Employment and Training (OET) are pleased to share with you a recently completed Ulster County Area Workforce Report (the Report).

The Report’s findings support the general belief that the Ulster County labor shed contains a workforce that has both quality and quantity. As the data shows, there exist potential employees that are experienced, trained, and accessible.

Equally important is that the findings, along with the supporting data, are valuable tools for existing as well as relocating businesses. The data can be utilized in efforts to aid existing businesses formulate their expansion plans. Similarly, such data, produced independently of UCDC, is a critical element of the site-selection process for those businesses evaluating Ulster County as a possible location to establish a new facility.

Nancy E.K. Schaef, Director of OET, reinforced the importance of the Report to the local employment-training network. “The mission of OET is to assist local businesses to sustain a qualified workforce and that job is made easier by this study. The OET can use the data from the study to analyze the needs of the labor market while developing job training and instruction programs for County residents and County businesses that seek qualified workers. The job training we offer reflects the market needs and the local economy, and this report significantly helps us to provide these important services,” said Ms. Schaef.

Hector Rodriguez, Ulster County Legislator and Chair of the Economic Development, Housing, Planning and Transit Committee is enthusiastic about the Report because it “highlights what we already know, the workers of Ulster County are very talented, skilled, and educated. We have a competitive advantage in our labor market to attract higher paying jobs and quality employers. Ulster County is the place for employers to get the skilled workforce they need at a price they can afford.”

The Report was prepared by The Pathfinders (www.thepathfindersus.com), which is a Dallas based firm that provides services in the areas of strategic planning for economic development, corporate site selection, feasibility studies, and workforce analysis. This Report represents the objective and professional view of The Pathfinders with regard to workforce availability, cost, skills, and quality that a new employer can expect in the Ulster County area.

It is widely recognized that in virtually every instance, the local workforce is a dominant factor in a company’s choice of a new location or decision to expand. This factor was the principal impetus for the development of this Report.

There are six counties in the Report area that comprise the “labor shed.” These include Ulster, Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, and Sullivan Counties. Within this labor shed the Report found:

• A civilian workforce of approximately 486,300.
• Approximately 21,200 unemployed workers actively seeking work.
• 32,600 currently employed workers having an interest in changing jobs and those workers who possess the skills experience, and education that would appear to qualify them for a job upgrade at the pay rate they specify to change jobs.
• There are roughly 16,400 people, neither employed nor seeking work, who might re-enter the workforce for the proper job.

Experience and skill categories are used in the Report to provide accurate workforce data for employers. The skills are in four broad groups:

• Manufacturing, assembly, fabrication and other industrial operations.
• Back office, data processing, call centers, information technology, customer service or sales operations.
• Distribution or transportation operations.
• Biotechnology, pharmaceuticals or medical research operations.

In the Ulster County area underemployed workers were most experienced in office operations, sales, customer care, and management/account management and processing. The workers were most skilled in office operations, management, manufacturing/assembly/fabrication and warehouse/materials handling. Of the underemployed individuals, almost 31% have some college experience, 20% have associate degrees, and another 33% have earned four-year college degrees or higher.

The Report documents the number of underemployed workers in the labor shed who would be available for an employer at various rates ranging from $8.00 per hour or below to $30.00 per hour or above. The pay rates they specify to take a new job are reasonable when compared to their existing pay rates. About 25% of those workers would take a new job for about $14.12 per hour or less. At the upper end, the 25% most qualified and experienced will command more than $30.74 per hour.

Over the coming months UCDC and OET will be distributing this Report throughout Ulster County and sharing it with existing as well as prospective businesses. In addition, the Report will be available on the UCDC (www.ulsterny.com) and OET (www.co.ulster.ny.us/oet) Websites.

Additional information can be obtained by contacting UCDC at 845-338-8840 or develop@ulsterny.com, or the OET by calling 845-340-3170, or sending an Email to oet@co.ulster.ny.us.