The document provides a summary of a laborshed analysis conducted for Calhoun County. The analysis examined the workforce characteristics and commuting patterns within the laborshed area, which encompassed a total potential labor force of 32,580 individuals. Some key findings included that 16.7% of employed individuals work multiple jobs, the average age is 47 years old, and the top three occupational categories are clerical/administrative support, service, and professional/technical. The analysis also found an estimated underemployment rate of 5.4% and that the largest shares of employed individuals work in education, health care, and government. A map shows commuting patterns into Rockwell City with concentrations by ZIP code.

1. Calhoun County
Laborshed Analysis
A Study of Workforce Characteristics
Released January 2011

2. Laborshed Studies
A Laborshed is defined as the area or region from which an employment center draws its commuting workers. To
determine the approximate boundaries of the Calhoun County Laborshed area, local employers supplied the ZIP code
listings of where each of their employees reside. This Laborshed analysis addresses underemployment, the availability and
willingness of current and prospective employees to change employment within the workforce, current and desired
occupations, wages, hours worked, and distance willing to commute to work. See contact information on back.
Quick Facts
Total Potential Labor Force: 32,580 (entire Laborshed Area) (Employed - willing to change employment)
Estimated Number of Individuals Very Likely or Somewhat Likely to  16.7% are working multiple jobs
Change or Accept Employment (9,178)
 Currently working an average of 42 hours per
week
 Average age is 47 years old
Employed
7,668  23.9% currently working within the clerical/
Unemployed administrative support occupational category
406 followed by 19.7% within both the service and
professional, paraprofessional, & technical
Homemakers occupational categories
803  Most frequently identified job search sources:
 Internet
Retired www.iowaworkforce.org
301  Local/Regional newspapers
The Messenger - Fort Dodge
The Des Moines Register
 Local Iowa Workforce Development
Centers
 Networking through friends, family, and
Employment Status: acquaintances
 77.3% Employed
 7.4% Unemployed
 6.4% Homemakers, Not Employed
 8.9% Retired
Underemployment
The underemployed are composed of individuals who are working fewer than 35 hours per week but desire more hours;
who are working at wages equal to or less than the national poverty level; and/or who are working in positions that do not
meet their skill or education levels, or worked for higher wages at previous employment.
 1.7% Inadequate hours (130 people)
 3.5% Mismatch of skills (268 people)
 1.2% Low income (92 people)
 5.4% Total estimated underemployment (414 people)
Individuals may be underemployed for more than one reason, but are counted only once for total estimated underemployment.
Industrial Classification of the Employed
% of # of
Industry
Laborshed Employed
Education 19.9% 5,012
Health Care & Social Services 19.9% 5,012 Survey respondents from the Calhoun
County Laborshed area were asked to
Public Administration & Government 13.6% 3,425
identify the industry in which they are
Wholesale & Retail Trade 13.2% 3,324 currently working. The largest
Manufacturing 8.5% 2,141 concentration of workers are employed in
Agriculture 5.5% 1,385 the education and health care & social
Transportation, Communication, & Utilities 5.1% 1,284 services industries as shown in the table at
Personal Services 4.8% 1,209 left.
Professional Services 4.4% 1,108
Finance, Insurance, & Real Estate 3.3% 831
Construction 1.8% 453

3. Calhoun County Commuting Area CLAY PALO ALTO KOSSUTH HANCOCK
10 Mile Radius Between Rings Legend
Commuting Statistics
HUMBOLDT
_
[ Rockwell City
CHEROKEE BUENA VISTA
POCAHONTAS
Interstate
WRIGHT The map at the left represents commuting
Storm Lake
Newell
t
u169 4-Lane Highway patterns into Rockwell City with the
Fonda
US Highways t
u69 concentration per ZIP code represented in the
legend.
t
u59
Pomeroy Jolley Pomeroy Manson Barnum Fort Dodge
State Highways
Iowa County
Sac City Those who are willing to change/accept
Lytton Knierim Moorland Otho
employment in the Calhoun County
IDA SAC _
[ t
u
20
WEBSTER
t
CALHOUN
u Laborshed area are willing to commute an
Rockwell City HAMILTON
71
Auburn
Somers
¦
¨
§ average of 23 miles one way for employment
Lake City
Lohrville Farnhamville Gowrie opportunities.
Churdan
BOONE
t
u
CRAWFORD GREENE
CARROLL
Scranton 30 STORY
Area Shown Jefferson
Commuter Concentration
by Place of Residence (per ZIP Code)
Zone 3 (1 - 14)
Zone 2 (15 - 49)
HARRISON SHELBY AUDUBON GUTHRIE Zone 1 (50 - 241)
DALLAS POLK
Benefits Currently Offered
90.0%
Health/Medical
The survey provides the respondents an
Pension/Retirement
opportunity to identify employment benefits
Dental Coverage
they currently are offered. The chart at left
Paid Vacation
provides the percentage of responses from
63.1% those that are currently employed. The top
Life Insurance
nine benefits are shown.
Paid Sick Leave
Vision Coverage
The majority (68.9%) of respondents state
40.2% Paid Holidays
36.5% they are currently sharing the cost of
Disability Insurance
health/medical insurance premiums with
26.9%
their employer. However, 23.9 percent
19.3% 17.3%
14.1%
indicate their employer pays the entire cost
10.0% of insurance premiums.
Education and Median Wage Characteristics by Industry
Education Median Wages
Some Level Undergraduate Salary Non-Salary
Industry Associate
Beyond High Degree or Wages Wages
Degree
School Higher (per year) (per hour)
Agriculture 64.7% 17.6% 23.6% * *
Construction * * * * *
Manufacturing 51.4% 8.6% 17.1% $62,000 $14.70
Transportation, Communication, & Utilities 73.7% 26.3% 21.1% $48,000 $20.75
Wholesale & Retail Trade 64.0% 12.0% 10.0% $32,000 $8.63
Finance, Insurance, & Real Estate 90.9% 9.1% 54.5% * $11.50
Health Care & Social Services 79.7% 30.4% 27.5% $35,000 $12.94
Personal Services 93.7% 12.5% 56.4% $28,000 $8.50
Entertainment & Recreation * * * * *
Professional Services 60.0% 20.0% 13.4% * $10.13
Public Administration & Government 78.3% 30.4% 28.3% $44,000 $19.29
Education 88.2% 7.4% 75.0% $42,000 $11.88
This table includes all respondents without consideration of employment status or willingness to change/enter employment.
*Insufficient survey data/refused

4. Unemployed - Those Willing to Enter/Re-enter Employment
 An estimated 406 unemployed individuals are willing to accept
63.2%
employment
 Average age is 43 years old
Internet
 68.4% are female; 31.6% are male
 Education:
 68.4% have an education beyond high school
 26.3% have an associate degree
Unemployed Job Search Sources
 15.8% have an undergraduate degree 47.4%
 Estimated wage range to attract the upper 66-75% qualified hourly wage
applicants is $9.88 to $13.73/hr. with a median of the lowest wage of
Local IWD Offices
42.1%
$8.50
 Willing to commute an average of 26 miles one way for the right
Local Newspapers
Door-to-Door Solicitation
opportunity
Regional Newspapers
 83.3% expressed interest in temporary and 55.6% in seasonal
employment opportunities
 38.9% expressed interest in working varied shifts (2nd, 3rd & split)
 Would prefer to enter employment that offers the following benefits:
 Health/medical insurance
 Pension/retirement options 21.1%
 Paid vacation
 Dental coverage
Networking
 Paid holidays 15.8% 15.8%
 Vision coverage
 Disability insurance
 Incentive reward programs
 Life insurance
 Paid sick leave
 Prescription drug coverage
 60.0% indicated they are seeking employment offers where the
employer/employee share the cost of medical insurance premiums.
Sponsored in Partnership with
For more information regarding the Calhoun County Laborshed Analysis, contact:
Calhoun County Economic Development Corpora-
tion
P.O. Box 47
Rockwell City, IA 50579
Phone: 712-297-5601
Email: ccedc@iowatelecom.net
www.calhoundev.com
This information is analyzed and compiled by the
Iowa Workforce Development
Labor Market & Workforce Information Division
Regional Research & Analysis Bureau
1000 E. Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50319
(515) 281-7505
www.iowaworkforce.org