Fulton, Montgomery, and Schoharie Counties

Fulton, Montgomery, and Schoharie Counties

Employer Survey

Spring 2009

Prepared by the New York State Department of Labor; Division of Research & Statistics, Mohawk Valley Regional Office

==========================================================

Survey Results

Do your current workers generally have the skills and abilities that you require?

Yes 112 (80.6%) No 27 (19.4%)

If “No”, what skills do they lack? (Check all that apply.)

9 (33.3%) Basic Skills (reading, writing, math)

15 (55.6%) Social Skills (appearance, attendance, attitude)

13 (48.1%) Job Specific Skills (Check all that apply)

11 (84.6%) Computer

7 (53.8%) Management

8 (61.5%) Technical

2 (15.4%) Other (Specify): See Comments for Question 1

Do your job applicants generally have the skills and abilities that you require?

Yes 58 (41.7%) No 81 (58.3%)

If “No”, what skills do they lack? (Check all that apply.)

36 (44.4%) Basic Skills (reading, writing, math)

54 (66.7%) Social Skills (appearance, attendance, attitude)

59 (72.8%) Job Specific Skills (Check all that apply)

28 (47.5%) Computer

11 (18.6%) Management

28 (47.5%) Technical

26 (32.1%) Other (Specify): See Comments for Question 2

Do you anticipate that the skills required of your current workforce and job applicants will change in the next 3 to 5 years?

Yes 64 (46.0%) No 75 (54.0%)

If “Yes”, what will they require? (Check all that apply.)

44 (68.8%) More computer skills

18 (24.0%) Higher level math aptitude

21 (28.0%) Higher level reading comprehension

32 (42.7%) Greater ability to demonstrate soft/basic skills

20 (26.7%) Other technical skills (Specify): See Comments for Question 3

========================================================

Respondent Comments

Comments for Question 1

COMMENTS	INDUSTRY OF RESPONDENT FIRM
SEWING	Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
CUSTOMER SERVICE	Food and Beverage Stores
ABILITY TO SEW	Apparel Manufacturing
CONSTRUCTION	Construction of Buildings
EQUIPMENT USE	Administrative and Support Services
BUSINESS ACUMEN	Repair and Maintenance

Comments for Question 2

COMMENTS	INDUSTRY OF RESPONDENT FIRM
ACTING PROFESSIONALLY	Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations
**NEED IMPROVEMENT IN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND RELATIONSHIP BUILDING WITH CUSTOMER	Nursing and Residential Care Facilities
PERSONAL AIDE	Nursing and Residential Care Facilities
BOUNDARIES WITH CLIENTS	Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation
COMPASSIONATE HEART	Social Assistance
SEWING, LANGUAGE	Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
MATH AND ACCOUNTING	Credit Intermediation and Related Activities
BASIC TRADES- ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, MECHANICAL	Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
60% CAN'T PASS THE DRUG TESTING	Textile Mills
SKILLS IN A SPECIALIZED FIELD	Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers
AUTOMOTIVE	Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers
NOTE FOR BASIC SKILLS: HS DIPLOMA	Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing
NOTE FOR BASIC SKILLS: HS DIPLOMA	Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing
CUSTOMER SERVICE	Food and Beverage Stores
ABILITY TO SEW	Apparel Manufacturing
STATE REQUIRED NURSING LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE	Nursing and Residential Care Facilities
CONSTRUCTION	Construction of Buildings
LICENSE	Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation
ABSTRACT CO. -MANY DO NOT HAVE ABSTRACTING SKILLS	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
MANUAL BOOKKEEPING	Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers
TELEPHONE ETIQUETTE, WORK ETHICS	Ambulatory Health Care Services
A FEW APPLICANTS HAVE PROBLEMS WITH COMPREHENDING BASIC INSTRUCTIONS AND HAVE PROBLEMS W/ LISTENING SKILLS. ALSO- TEAM WORK, COOPERATION SKILLS, ABILITY TO OPERATE SIMPLE TOOLS.	Primary Metal Manufacturing
ANALYTICAL SKILLS	Credit Intermediation and Related Activities
HARD PHYSICAL LABOR PICKING VEGGIES AND COMING TO WORK WHEN NEEDED.	Crop Production
DENTAL OFFICE	Ambulatory Health Care Services
INTERVIEWING SKILLS- LOOK GOOD ON PAPER- LACK PEOPLE SKILLS	Social Assistance
TRAINING- TELEPHONE, CHILD CARE	Ambulatory Health Care Services
TEXTILE, KNITTING, WARPING	Textile Mills

Comments for Question 3

COMMENTS	INDUSTRY OF RESPONDENT FIRM
DEGREES	Social Assistance
MECHANICS	Rental and Leasing Services
'SMART HOME' WIRING (COMPUTERIZED), MORE TECHNICAL TRAINING IN ELECTRICAL FIELD	Specialty Trade Contractors
Blank	Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries
BASIC TRADES- ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, MECHANICAL	Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
BLANK	Truck Transportation
WRITING SKILLS	Social Assistance
HARDWARE/PLUMBING KNOWLEDGE, PET & FARM ANIMAL KNOWLEDGE	Miscellaneous Store Retailers
ELECTRICAL	Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods
SEWING	Apparel Manufacturing
GOING TO NEED WIDER RANGE OF KNOWLEDGE	Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers
HIGHER DEGREE OF EDUCATION	Nursing and Residential Care Facilities
COMPUTER	Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers
PROFESSIONALISM & DEPENDABILITY- MOST APPLICANTS DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION CORRECTLY!	Food Services and Drinking Places
EQUIPMENT USE, HIGHER LEVEL TECHNICAL TRAINING	Administrative and Support Services
BUSINESS ACUMEN	Repair and Maintenance
COPE UNDER HIGH STRESS	Ambulatory Health Care Services
SELF MOTIVATION	Printing and Related Support Activities
ABILITY TO RUN AUTOMATED MACHINES AS THE INDUSTRY BECOMES AUTOMATED	Primary Metal Manufacturing
SALES SKILLS	Credit Intermediation and Related Activities
COMMENT ON GREATER ABILITY TO DEMONSTRATE SOFT/BASIC SKILLS: TEAM, DECISION MAKING/JUDGMENT	Warehousing and Storage
BA DEGREES	Social Assistance
TRADE SPECIFIC- KNITTING	Textile Mills

============================================================================

Survey Facts

· In the 3^rd quarter of 2008, there were 2,986 private sector firms in the counties of Fulton, Montgomery and Schoharie.

· Only firms with employment of 10 or more were surveyed. These 693 firms made up 23% of all firms, and almost 82% of the total employment in the 3-county area.

· Average annual wages of the small firms not surveyed (0 - 9 employees) was $24,761. The annual average wage of the surveyed firms (firms of 10 or more employment) was $32,181.

· The survey was mailed out on April 14 – 15, 2009 and surveys were requested to be returned by April 28, 2009.

· Of the 693 surveys sent out, 139 were returned by employers for a response rate of 20.1%.