Workforce in Southwest Indiana, the Evansville Region
Words like pride, loyalty, and a strong work ethic describe the Evansville work force, which is possibly the area’s most valuable resource. Toyota executives give glowing reports about the quality of the labor force. They have stated that the start-up of the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana (TMMI) assembly plant has been the smoothest in company history.
Evansville has one of the highest percentages of skilled and semiskilled production workers relative to the total workforce, as compared to surrounding states.
Local employers give high marks to their workforce when it comes to measuring productivity levels. In addition, the annual employee turnover rate is less than 5 percent, and absenteeism rates range from 0-3 percent per month. These proud workers can trace their roots to a strong Germanic heritage, which has been part of Evansville for over 150 years.
The Evansville area has a diversified economy. While manufacturing accounts for 20.6% of the jobs, the rapidly growing services sector employs 71% of the workforce. The Evansville Region's well-trained, highly motivated labor force now totals over 177,000. Because of the proximity of the surrounding counties, and ease of access to the Evansville area, businesses routinely draw from a labor force that lies within a 30-mile radius of their work site.
Current Labor Force Data (Evansville Region, March 2008)
At the end of March 2008, WorkOne Evansville reported the labor force in the Evansville MSA * to be 181,467. The unemployment rate for the area was 5.0%. The Indiana unemployment rate was 5.6% and the U.S. rate was 5.2%. For the complete Labor Market Profile click here. *Gibson, Posey, Vanderburgh, and Warrick Counties in Indiana, and Henderson and Webster Counties in Kentucky.
| COUNTY |
LABOR FORCE
|
EMPLOYED
|
RATE
|
| VANDERBURGH |
90,455
|
85,960 |
5.0%
|
| WARRICK |
30,649
|
29,283 |
4.5%
|
| POSEY |
13,655
|
13,031 |
4.6%
|
| GIBSON |
17,058
|
16,294 |
4.5%
|
| SPENCER |
10,069
|
9,538 |
5.3%
|
| HENDERSON CO., KY |
23,833 |
23,800 |
4.3% |
| WEBSTER CO., KY |
6,979 |
6,591 |
5.6% |
| REGIONAL TOTALS |
192,698
|
184,497
|
4.83%
|
| U.S. |
|
145,108,000
|
5.2% |
| INDIANA |
|
3,028,296
|
5.6% |
|
*Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)
|
|
Source: Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Marh 2008
Kentucky DOL December, 2007
|
| For a brief overview of area wages, click here. |
Back to top
|
 |
Ground Time in Transit Best in Nation!
If High Fuel Costs and Fuel Surcharges are lowering your profits, consider locating in Southwest Indiana near the Median Center of U.S. Population. Our central location is ideal for companies that rely on FEDEX and UPS ground delivery services. Compare ground transit times via FEDEX and UPS from your zip code and ours (47708). Then call us (1-800-401-7683) for information on available sites and buildings. We look forward to hearing from you!
Total nonagricultural wage and salaried employment in the Evansville area has risen from 135,390 in 1990 to 177,115 in 2006, an increase of 24 percent. While manufacturing employment over the past ten years has decreased, employment in trade and services has increased, reflecting a national trend.
Regional Labor Force Estimates
from - Indiana Department of Workforce Development March, 2008 - Evansville, IN/Henderson, KY MSA
- Labor Force - 181,467
- Number Employed - 172,451
- MSA unemployment - 5.0%
- Indiana unemployment - 5.6%
- U.S. unemployment - 5.2%
(Evansville MSA – Gibson, Posey, Vanderburgh, and Warrick Counties in Indiana, and Henderson and Webster Counties in Kentucky.)
15,830 applicants were seeking employment at WorkOne Evansville at the end of March 2008.
Need comprehensive statistics for the area including applicant profile and educational attainment? The Indiana Department of Workforce Development's latest database is available here.
Expansion Management Magazine ranks Indiana's workforce development programs fifth in the nation. The survey polled more than 80 corporate site location consultants for the results.
|
