OPINION RESEARCH SPECIALISTS, LLC

SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI
(417) 889-4506

2016 State of the

Workforce Survey
Online survey of organizations within a
7-county region in Southwest Missouri
Survey conducted Oct 2015 Jan 2016
Total of 423 completed surveys
Margin of error + 5.0%

DEMOGRAPHICS

County Location of Participating Organizations

69.3%

Greene

13.5%

Taney
Dallas

4.7%

Christian

4.3%

Webster

3.1%

Polk

2.8%

Stone

2.4%

Participating Organizations by Sector

Nonprofit

Govt

12% 12% Education

8%

For-Profit

68%

Participating Organizations by
Number of Full-Time Employees
Median = 26
Range: 1 30,000

57%

18%

1-49

50-199

Full-Time Employees

25%

200+

Participating Organizations by
Number of Part-Time Employees
(< 30 hours)
Median = 5
Range: 0 25,000

43%
22%

21%

10-49

50+

14%

1-9

Part-Time Employees

Participating Organizations by
Number of Full- and Part-Time Employees
Median = 45
Range: 1 40,000

52%

22%

1-49

50-199

26%

200+

Total Number of Employees

Percentage of Employees Eligible to Retire and

Estimated to Actually Retire in Next Two Years
51%

36%
27% 26%
18%
12%
8%

0%-1%

2%-5%

6%-10%

6%

11%-20%

7%
3%
21%-30%

4%

2%

>30%

EDUCATIONRELATED
QUESTIONS

Percentage of Positions/Jobs in Organization

Requiring a STEM Background
(Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics)
2015

2016

38%
33%

34%

29%
23%
16%

0%

1-25%

26%-75%

14%

13%

> 75%

Percentage of Organizations Hiring Graduates From the

Following Local Educational Institutions in the Past Few Years

Colleges/
Universities

Community
Colleges/Vo-Tech

High Schools

68%

2016

77%

2015

63%

2016
2015

53%

70%

2016
2015

61%

Overall Level of Preparation of Graduates

Colleges/
Universities

Community
Colleges/Vo-Tech

89%

2016

11%

2015

84%

16%

2016

82%

18%

2015

82%

18%

2016

High Schools
2015

57%
60%

Met Expectations (Grade A or B)

43%
40%
Needs Improvement (Grade C, D, or F)

Evaluating the Overall Performance of Area Schools in

Providing the Knowledge/Skills Necessary to Compete
in Todays Workforce

2016

60%

40%

2015

58%

42%

Met Expectations (Grade A or B)

Needs Improvement (Grade C, D, or F)

Currently Partner With Area Schools to Design Curriculum,

Develop Training Programs, and/or Sponsor an
Apprenticeship Program to Help Students Acquire the Skills
Necessary to Succeed
Noin Industry
Yes
No
2016
29%
71%
Yes

No

IF NO, Level of Interest in Partnering With Area Schools to

Sponsor an APPRENTICESHIP Program (2016)
Colleges/Universities

15%

39%

46%

Community Colleges/
Vo-tech

16%

39%

45%

High Schools

13%

37%

Very Interested

50%
Somewhat Interested

Not Interested

IF NO, Level of Interest in Partnering With Area Schools

to Design CURRICULUM/TRAINING Programs

Colleges/
Universities

Community
Colleges/
Vo-Tech

High Schools

2016

16%

2015

17%

39%

44%

2016

16%

41%

43%

2015

17%

35%

49%

45%

2016

12%

37%

2015

14%

32%

Very Interested

38%

51%
54%
Somewhat Interested

Not Interested

EMPLOYMENTRELATED
QUESTIONS

Percentage of Organizations Having Difficulty Filling

Positions Over the Past 12 Months
by Industry
OVERALL

59%

62%

For-Profit
Government
Education
Nonprofit

41%

54%

38%
46%

46%

54%

43%

57%
Yes

No

Percentage of Organizations Having Difficulty Filling

Positions Over the Past 12 Months by Employer Size
1-49 FT Employees

63%
75%

50-199 FT Employees

1-9 PT Employees

15%

68%

32%

56%

44%
90%

10-49 PT Employees
50+ PT Employees

25%

85%

200+ FT Employees

0 PT Employees

37%

10%

80%
Yes

20%
No

How Organizations Filled Positions When Having

Difficulty Finding Qualified Applicants
Increased recruiting efforts within the region

52%

Did not fill the job opening

36%

Targeted recruiting to fill identified gaps

30%

Recruited from outside the region

30%

Hired less qualified applicants

27%

Used temporary labor or outsourced work

24%

Increased pay/compensation to attract more applicants

23%

Overtime for existing skilled workers

21%

Targeted internal training programs

17%

Incentives to retain skilled workers

15%

External skills training

6%

Moved some operations out of the region

1%

Job Outlook:
Jobs in Highest Demand in Next Five-to-Ten Years
Occupational Fields

2015

2016

Business, Management and Administration

1st

1st

Marketing, Sales and Service

2nd

2nd

Information Technology/Computer Science

3rd

3rd

Amount of Concern Employers Have Regarding the Following

Deficiencies of Job Applicants2016
Low number of
applicants

61%

21%

18%

Relevant work
experience

50%

25%

25%

Communication skills

49%

28%

23%

Relevant technical/
occupational skills

49%

26%

25%

Educational/professional
certifications
Unwillingness to accept
offered wages

40%

36%
A Lot

26%

34%

32%

32%

Some

Little/None

Amount of Concern Employers Have Regarding the Following

Deficiencies of Job Applicants2016 (Contd)
Personal hygiene/
appearance

32%

Criminal records

28%

Unwillingness to accept
working conditions

23%

Passing drug test

21%

Commuting distance

English language fluency

28%

18%

54%

18%

59%

16%

18%

9%

40%

63%

22%

60%

14%
A Lot

77%
Some

Little/None

Amount of Concern Employers Have Regarding the Following

Deficiencies of Job Applicants: 2015 2016
Communication skills 16
(written, verbal, 15
nonverbal)

49%

28%

23%

49%

26%

25%

Relevant technical/ 16
occupational skills 15

49%

26%

25%

46%

28%

40%

26%

26%
34%

Educational/professional 16
certifications 15

31%

29%

40%

16

32%

28%

40%

Personal hygiene/
appearance

15

35%

25%

English language 16 9% 14%

fluency 15
18%
16%
A Lot

40%
77%
66%

Some

Little/None

Basic Skills: Employees Needing Improvement2016

Listening

23%

Financial Literacy

23%

Computer Literacy

18%

Oral Communication

15%

20%

49%

28%

57%

25%

59%

26%

56%

Writing

10

Math

10

Reading 3
English Language 3

57%

34%

50%

40%

40%
20%

57%
77%

Most

Some

None

Soft Skills: Employees Needing Improvement2016

Time Management

22%

Leadership

21%

Goal Setting

21%

65%

13%

64%

15%

61%

18%

Professionalism

17%

62%

21%

Work Ethic/Habits

16%

65%

19%

Interpersonal Relations

14%

68%

18%

Adaptability

14%

66%

20%

Teamwork

14%

65%

21%

Integrity & Ethics

12%

51%
Most

37%
Some

None

Thinking Skills: Employees Needing Improvement2016

Decision Making/
Critical Thinking

25%

59%

16%

Problem Solving

24%

60%

16%

Creative Thinking

19%

65%

Willingness to Learn 12%

59%

Comprehension 11%

29%

67%
Most

16%

Some

22%
None

Basic Skills: Employees Needing Improvement: 2015 2016

Listening

16
15

23%
17%

Financial Literacy

16
15

23%
18%

Computer Literacy

16
15

18%
12%

Oral Communication

16
15

15%
12%

Writing

16 10%
15 10%

Math

16 10%
15 8%

Reading

16 3
15 5

English Language

16 3
15 3

57%
62%

20%
21%

49%
54%

28%
28%

57%
65%

25%
23%

59%
63%

26%
25%

56%
59%

34%
31%

50%
56%

40%
36%

40%
39%

57%
56%

20%
27%

77%
70%
Most

Some

None

Soft Skills: Employees Needing Improvement: 2015 2016

Time Management

16
15

22%
22%

Leadership

16
15

21%
20%

Goal Setting 16
15

21%
22%
12%
17%
14%

16
Professionalism 15

Worth Ethics/Habits

16
15

65%
65%
64%
66%

Integrity & Ethics

18%
18%

62%
66%

16%
16%

14%
15%
10%
Adaptability/ 16 14%
17%
Flexibility 15
16
15

15%
14%

61%
60%

Interpersonal 16
Relations 15

Teamwork

13%
13%

21%
20%

65%
67%

19%
17%

68%
66%

18%
19%

66%
62%

14%
13%

20%
21%

65%
65%

16 12%
15 9%

51%
55%
Most

21%
22%
37%
36%

Some

None

Thinking Skills: Employees Needing Improvement: 2015 2016

Decision Making/ 16
Critical Thinking 15

25%
23%

59%
64%

16%
13%

16

24%
23%

60%
65%

16%
12%

Problem Solving

15

14%

Creative Thinking

Willingness to Learn

Comprehension

16
15

16
15

16
15

19%
19%

65%
64%

12%
11%

59%
62%

11%
10%

67%
65%
Most

16%
17%
29%
27%

Some

22%
25%
None

Benefits and Training Opportunities Offered to

Full-Time Employees
65%
66%

Paid vacation & holidays

60%
61%

Medical insurance
Training/Prof development

56%
56%

401K/Retirement plans

53%
56%

Flexible work arrangements

Tuition reimbursement
Maternity/Paternity leave
Onsite services

40%
36%
31%
28%

2016
2015

29%

(New question this year)

16%
11% (Childcare, exercise facility, dry cleaner, etc.)

Organizational Hiring Plans: 2015 2016

Next 12 Months
Full-Time 2016
Full-Time 2015
Part-Time 2016
Part-Time 2015

34%
29%

58%
59%

27%
26%

8%
12%

65%
68%
Increase

8%
6%

Stay Same

Decrease

Next 3-5 Years

Full-Time 2016
Full-Time 2015
Part-Time 2016
Part-Time 2015

47%
52%
41%
41%

48%
42%
52%
53%

5%
6%
7%
6%

How Organizations Retain Employees

Offer good working conditions

82%

Offer competitive pay / compensation

70%

Offer training

67%

Offer flexible work schedules

54%

Employee recognition and reward programs

53%

Promote career growth opportunities

49%

Employee wellness programs

40%

Offer tuition reimbursement benefits

30%

Reduce minimum qualifications for vacancies

12%

Anticipating the Organizational Impact of the

New Overtime Rule
Remain about the same / No changes

33%

Dont know / Not sure

33%

Convert some salaried employees to hourly pay

32%

Increase the number of part-time employees

11%

Decrease the number of full-time employees

9%

Increase the number of full-time employees

4%

Decrease the number of part-time employees

2%

Impact of Community Quality of Life

on Attracting and Retaining Workers
71%

2016

79%

2015
Strength

Neither strength nor weakness

12%

13%

16%

9%

12%

Weakness

Employment Expectations
Over Next 6 to 12 Months

Decrease
4%

Increase
42%

Leave Unchanged
54%

Employment Expectations
Over Next 6 to 12 Months
42%

OVERALL

For-Profit

47%

Nonprofit

46%

Government
Education

20%

54%

50%

46%

72%

13%

81%
Increase

Leave Unchanged

6
Decrease

Employment Expectations
Over Next 6 to 12 Months by Employer Size
1-49 FT Employees

41%

50-199 FT Employees

40%

200+ FT Employees

40%

1-9 PT Employees

40%

50+ PT Employees

50%

46%

0 PT Employees

10-49 PT Employees

57%
10

48%

53%

57%

31%

61%
57%

Increase

41%
Leave Unchanged

Decrease

Extent to Which Organizations are Reluctant to Hire

Additional Employees Due to Uncertainty of How
New Governmental Regulations Will Impact Their
Organization

None
31%

A Lot
16%

Some
27%
Only a Little
26%

Extent to Which Organizations are Reluctant to Hire

Additional Employees Due to Uncertainty of How
New Governmental Regulations Will Impact Their
Organization by Industry
OVERALL

16%

For-Profit

18%

Nonprofit
Government

15%
10%

27%

27%
16%

22%

33%
27%

42%
47%

A Lot

31%

42%

24%

Education 6%

26%

18%
Some

Only a Little

24%
29%
None

Extent to Which Organizations are Reluctant to Hire

Additional Employees Due to Uncertainty of How
New Governmental Regulations Will Impact Their
Organization by Employer Size

20

1-49 FT Employees
50-199 FT Employees
200+ FT Employees

0 PT Employees
1-9 PT Employees
10-49 PT Employees
50+ PT Employees

27%

12
5

22%

28%

25%

26%
13

39%

16%

32%

18

29%

15
11

31%
26%
A Lot

35%
30%
39%

20%
25%
39%

Some

31%

Only a Little

33%
29%
24%
None

Impact of the Affordable Care Act on

Employment Levels 2016
Full-Time Employees

Not
Applicable

19%

Increased
7%

14%
Decreased

Dont Know
14%

Remained About
the Same
46%

Part-Time Employees

Not
Applicable

24%

Dont Know
13%

Increased
18%
8%
Decrease
Decreased
6%

Remained About
the Same
37%

Impact of the ACA on Employment Levels of

Full-Time Employees by Industry
Impact

For-Profit

Increased

7%

8%

0%

29%

Decreased

15%

15%

0%

18%

Stayed
About the
Same

48%

46%

55%

18%

Dont
Know

11%

19%

21%

23%

Not
Applicable

19%

12%

24%

12%

Nonprofit Government Education

Impact of the ACA on Employment Levels of

Part-Time Employees by Industry
Impact

For-Profit

Increased

19%

19%

3%

35%

Decreased

8%

0%

10%

12%

Stayed
About the
Same

37%

42%

42%

23%

Dont
Know

11%

23%

17%

18%

Not
Applicable

25%

16%

28%

12%

Nonprofit Government Education

How the Affordable Care Act Has Impacted the

Number of Employees Offered Health Insurance

Not
Applicable
16%

Increased
12%
10%
Decreased

Dont Know
14%

Remained About
the Same
48%

Impact of the ACA on Number of Employees

Offered Health Insurance by Industry
Impact

For-Profit

Increased

9%

27%

0%

41%

Decreased

13%

4%

7%

6%

Stayed
About the
Same

51%

42%

48%

23%

Dont
Know

12%

19%

21%

24%

Not
Applicable

15%

8%

24%

6%

Nonprofit Government Education

Impact of the ACA on Number of Employees

Offered Health Insurance by Employer Size
Impact

1-49 Full-Time
Employees

50-199 Full200+ Full-Time

Time Employees
Employees

Increased

6%

13%

26%

Decreased

12%

10%

5%

Stayed About
the Same

52%

50%

43%

Dont Know

10%

15%

20%

Not
Applicable

20%

12%

6%

Impact of the ACA on Number of Employees

Offered Health Insurance by Employer Size
Impact

1-9 Part-Time
Employees

10-49 Part-Time
Employees

50+ Part-Time
Employees

Increased

0%

7%

33%

Decreased

7%

10%

9%

Stayed About
the Same

45%

59%

37%

Dont Know

32%

7%

15%

Not
Applicable

16%

17%

6%

Questions?