by Cynthia Lambert, Redfield Press
Some of the difficulties facing Redfield's largest employers, including SDDC and Community Memorial Hospital, were addressed at the Workforce Roundtable held during Redfield's Capital for a Day.
While South Dakota ranks second lowest in the nation for unemployment at a rate of 3.2% as of August 2006, and Spink County with an unemployment rate of only 2.8% or about 100 people; the percentage of people who can be defined as labor supply is only 7.5%. Meaning only 7.5% of Spink County's total population is considered potentially available to apply for work if a job becomes available.
The area's largest employers have a very small number of available workers to hire from. Between 2000 and 2004 Redfield's population has decreased by 557 people; Spink County has had a decrease of 473. The drop in population can generally be attributed to graduating students leaving for college and better workforce opportunities outside of Redfield. As Redfield's population declines, employers must then turn to recruiting efforts to attract workers from areas with a larger labor pool who would be willing to relocate or commute to the jobs available.
The first part of the problem starts with housing. Redfield has a decided shortage of housing available for younger adults just starting out. People not ready or able to buy a house do not have many options for a place to live. With gas prices high and continuing to rise, commuting any distance is also a struggle. Thankfully Grow Spink, the City of Redfield, SDDC and Community Memorial Hospital, along with others are brainstorming ideas to fix this lack. Some of the ideas being looked into include the building of Governor's houses for the lower income/entry level wage earners. This would bring housing purchases into the affordable range for many of the people in the labor pool. They are also exploring the possibility of building apartments.
The second part of the problem involves childcare. Currently Redfield has eight licensed in home childcare facilities and one licensed center. One of the home care providers intends to retire shortly. The others have all, for the most part, been in business for over 15 years. Of all of these providers only one offers after hours care. With SDDC, CMH and the nursing homes operating on a 24/7 basis, this puts a lot of people in a bind. What do you do with the children when day care is closed and you are scheduled to work? The same people working on the housing shortage are combining some of those plans with ideas for more childcare opportunities during the off hours.
While still in the planning stages, progress is being made, a game plan is being developed and goals are being set.
Grow Spink continues to seek community and citizen input and involvement.
