Economic development groups from ten Southwest Mississippi counties have joined forces to conduct an extensive labor market study in the region. These counties are members of the Southwest Mississippi Partnership. Residents from Adams, Amite, Claiborne, Franklin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lincoln, Pike, Walthall, and Wilkinson are being called on to participate.
“This project will help position our region to compete in the global economy for the best economic development opportunities and jobs,” says Chandler Russ, Executive Director of Natchez, Inc. Initially, this data will assist existing businesses in finding qualified available workers. It will also help workforce agencies match workers with jobs and training programs. Ultimately, this project will provide planning data to prepare the workforce for the new economy, which requires higher skills.
This study will include a labor supply survey, to be conducted among working-age people via brief personal interviews at numerous sites throughout the region. “To achieve the greatest level of success, we need the help of individuals in the community,” states Russ. “We ask people to stop and talk to our surveyors when they are in the area.” Individuals can stop by either Southside Market (October 21st 10:00 am – 5:00 pm) or Sports Center (October 22nd 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm) to participate in the survey.
The survey of residents will identify key workforce information including:
- Occupation skills and education levels of the labor force
- Any untapped labor force segments
- The extent of underemployment in the workforce
- Interest in training and preferred fields of training
- Willingness to change jobs
The information gathered will be used in determining training programs, economic development programs, and industrial recruitment. “Workforce skills and availability are critical factors to businesses selecting locations for a new facility or expansion. To create quality job opportunities and to meet the needs of industry, communities must understand and address the workforce issue,” states Russ.
Survey teams will be at various locations in the ten-county region conducting brief in-person interviews with Southwest Mississippi residents Thursday October 21 through Saturday, October 23. The survey takes only a couple of minutes to complete but gathers very important information about workers and job skills available in the region. Names are not collected, and survey responses are completely anonymous.
Younger Associates, a Tennessee-based economic development research firm, is conducting the study. For more information about either the survey or the study, contact Natchez, Inc. at (601) 445-0288.
About Natchez, Inc.
Natchez, Inc. is Natchez, Vidalia, and Adams County’s lead economic and community development agency. Our staff is engaged in providing services to businesses, communities, and the workforce in the region. Our mission is to serve existing and new businesses and industries – all with the goal of improving the quality of life and economic well-being of area residents. For more information, visit Natchez, Inc. website at www.natchezinc.com.
About Southwest Mississippi Partnership
The Southwest Mississippi Partnership (SWMSP) is a regional economic development organization that unites to efforts of eleven (11) counties in Southwest Mississippi. Their efforts include working closely with the existing industries in the region on expansion details as well as aiding site selectors or companies considering a new location in Southwest Mississippi. For more information, visit the Southwest Mississippi Partnership website at www.swmiss.us.
