This document summarizes the results of a Laborshed analysis conducted in Humboldt County. The Laborshed area includes 40,110 individuals in the total potential labor force. Of those, 11,933 are very or somewhat likely to change employment. The largest industries employing people in the area are education, manufacturing, and health care. Unemployment in the area is estimated at 566 individuals who are willing to enter or reenter employment.

1. 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 Humboldt 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.
Total Potential Labor Force: 40,110 (entire Laborshed Area) Quick Facts
(Employed - willing to change employment)
Estimated Number of Individuals Very Likely or Somewhat Likely to
Change or Accept Employment (11,933)  13.6% are working multiple jobs
 Currently working an average of 41 hours per
week
Employed  Average age is 47 years old
9,942  30.9% currently working within the production,
Unemployed
construction, & material handling occupational
566
category followed by 22.2% within the
Homemakers professional, paraprofessional, & technical
1,002 occupational category
 Most frequently identified job search sources:
Retired  Internet
423 www.iowaworkforce.org
www.careerbuilder.com
www.monster.com
 Local/Regional newspapers
The Messenger - Fort Dodge
Employment Status: The Des Moines Register
 Local Iowa Workforce Development
 78.3% Employed Centers
 6.9% Unemployed  Networking through friends, family, and
 6.7% Homemakers, Not Employed acquaintances
 8.1% 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.
 2.2% Inadequate hours (219 people)
 3.2% Mismatch of skills (318 people)
 1.7% Low income (169 people)
 5.7% Total estimated underemployment (567 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 20.6% 6,470
Manufacturing 18.3% 5,747 Survey respondents from the Humboldt
County Laborshed area were asked to
Health Care & Social Services 14.7% 4,617
identify the industry in which they are
Wholesale & Retail Trade 11.9% 3,737
currently working. The largest
Public Administration & Government 8.3% 2,607 concentration of workers are employed in
Transportation, Communication, & Utilities 7.9% 2,481 the education industry as shown in the
Personal Services 6.0% 1,884 table at left.
Professional Services 3.6% 1,131
Agriculture 3.6% 1,131
Finance, Insurance, & Real Estate 2.4% 754
Construction 2.4% 754
Entertainment & Recreation 0.3% 94

3. Humboldt County Commuting Area
Area Shown Legend
DICKINSON
DICKINSON EMMET
EMMET WINNEBAGO
WINNEBAGO
WORTH
WORTH
t
u Commuting Statistics
t
u
MITCHELL
65
65
MITCHELL
_
[ Humboldt
Interstate The map at the left represents commuting
KOSSUTH
KOSSUTH
patterns into Humboldt with the concentration
4-Lane Highway
CLAY
CLAY PALO ALTO
PALO ALTO
t
u
t
u18
18 Algona
Algona
HANCOCK
HANCOCK
CERRO GORDO
CERRO GORDO
FLOYD
FLOYD
per ZIP code represented in the legend.
t
u
t
u71
71 Whittemore
Whittemore Lu Verne
Lu Verne
Corwith
Corwith
US Highways
t
u State Highways Those who are willing to change/accept
t
u
West Bend
West Bend 69
69
Iowa County
employment in the Humboldt County
Ottosen Bode Livermore Renwick
Laborshed area are willing to commute an
Ottosen Bode Livermore Belmond
Renwick Belmond
Rolfe
Rolfe
Bradgate
Bradgate
Rutland
Rutland Hardy
Hardy
Goldfield
Goldfield ¦
¨
§
¦
¨
§35
35
average of 23 miles one way for employment
HUMBOLDT
BUENA VISTA HUMBOLDT
_
[ opportunities.
BUENA VISTA POCAHONTAS
_
[
POCAHONTAS Pocahontas WRIGHT FRANKLIN BUTLER
Pocahontas Dakota City WRIGHT FRANKLIN BUTLER
Dakota City Clarion
Gilmore City Thor Clarion
Gilmore City Humboldt Thor
Humboldt
Palmer
Palmer Eagle Grove
Eagle Grove
Clare Badger Woolstock
Clare Badger Woolstock
Vincent
Vincent
Manson Barnum Fort Dodge
Manson Barnum Fort Dodge
GRUNDY
Webster City GRUNDY
Webster City
WEBSTER
WEBSTER Duncombe
Moorland Otho
t
u
Moorland Otho Duncombe
SAC
SAC CALHOUN
CALHOUN t
u 20
20
Callender
Commuter Concentration
HAMILTON
HAMILTON
HARDIN
HARDIN
Burnside Lehigh
Callender Lehigh
Burnside
by Place of Residence (per ZIP Code)
Dayton
Dayton
Zone 3 (1 - 18)
Zone 2 (19 - 131)
CRAWFORD CARROLL GREENE
CRAWFORD BOONE STORY MARSHALL
10 Mile Radius Between Rings
CARROLL GREENE BOONE Zone 1 (132 - 975)
STORY MARSHALL
Benefits Currently Offered
88.9% The survey provides the respondents an
Health/Medical
Pension/Retirement opportunity to identify employment benefits
Paid Vacation they currently are offered. The chart at left
Dental Coverage provides the percentage of responses from
62.1% those that are currently employed. The top
Life Insurance
Paid Sick Leave nine benefits are shown.
Paid Holidays
37.9% Vision Coverage The majority (74.3%) of respondents state
34.8% Disability Insurance they are currently sharing the cost of
health/medical insurance premiums with
20.6% 19.4% their employer. However, 19.0 percent
15.8% 14.2%
10.7%
indicate their employer pays the entire cost
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 63.6% 9.1% 27.3% * $15.25
Construction 100.0% 0.0% 25.0% $42,000 *
Manufacturing 64.3% 12.5% 25.0% $51,000 $16.40
Transportation, Communication, & Utilities 63.0% 22.2% 14.8% $70,000 $24.00
Wholesale & Retail Trade 70.0% 25.0% 10.0% $43,000 $10.00
Finance, Insurance, & Real Estate * * * * *
Health Care & Social Services 84.8% 39.1% 13.0% * $13.98
Personal Services 70.0% 0.0% 30.0% $32,000 $10.00
Entertainment & Recreation * * * * *
Professional Services 64.3% 21.4% 21.3% $59,500 $10.00
Public Administration & Government 76.0% 8.0% 36.0% $45,500 $17.00
Education 88.7% 6.5% 75.8% $44,000 $11.85
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 566 unemployed individuals are willing to accept
employment 76.5%
 Average age is 48 years old
Internet
 55.6% are male; 44.4% are female
 Education:
 72.2% have an education beyond high school
 22.2% have an associate degree
Unemployed Job Search Sources
 27.8% have an undergraduate degree
 5.6% have a postgraduate/professional degree
 Estimated wage range to attract the upper 66-75% qualified hourly wage 52.9%
applicants is $13.35 to $15.00/hr. with a median of the lowest wage of
Local Newspapers
$9.50
 Willing to commute an average of 27 miles one way for the right
opportunity
Private Employment Services
 88.9% expressed interest in temporary and 44.4% in seasonal
Door-to-Door Solicitation
employment opportunities
 66.7% expressed interest in working varied shifts (2nd, 3rd & split)
 Would prefer to enter employment that offers the following benefits: 29.4%29.4%
 Health/medical insurance
Pension/retirement options
Networking

Local IWD Offices
Regional Newspapers
 Dental coverage
 Disability insurance
 Life insurance
 Vision coverage 11.8% 11.8% 11.8%
 Paid holidays
 Paid sick leave
 Paid vacation
 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 Humboldt County Laborshed Analysis, contact:
Humboldt County Development Association
29 5th Street South, PO Box 529
Humboldt, Iowa 50548
Phone: (515) 332-2557
Fax: (515) 332-1453
Email: alissao@ci.humboldt.ia.us
www.ci.humboldt.ia.us/hcda
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