EDSR INFORMATION #5 08-13-2012 ► 1 1 ' •
UNDERSTANDING THE WORKER NEEDS OF MANUFACTURERS:
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MANUFACTURING MATTERS more than ever. Percent of Respondents Indicating Moderate or
The sector accounts for 13 percent of Minnesota's Serious Current Workforce Shortage, by Region
private sector jobs and almost 15 percent of the
private sector's output. With productivity (output a ?o
P P P Y P Northwest) 410
per hour) in manufacturing growing at 36 percent
over the past decade (which exceeded overall i L Northeast
productivity growth), manufacturing remains one
of the key sources of economic growth. In an
environment of rapidly changing technology and 44®/
operations, a skilled workforce is critical to the state's
future economic growth. 54–% r
A HIGH-PERFORMANCE WORKFORCE was
the top factor for future business success, according
to a nationwide survey of manufacturing businesses { 0 Central
by Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute in 2011. 44% Twin
Surveys of Minnesota manufacturers (using some 3°/®Cities
similar questions as the national survey) by the
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic —1,49°7451.' j`
Development(DEED) in 2007 and 2011 agree. A 1- ;rj0/p
high-performance workforce was rated as the =)� �
number one factor for firm success, according to Southwest Southeast
67 percent of respondents. Source"Understanding the Worker Needs of Manufacturers,"survey results,
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development 2011.
WORKFORCE SHORTAGES BUSINESS RESPONSES
• Almost half of respondents had positions unfilled • The most frequent methods used to recruit
due to a lack of qualified applicants and indicated and retain employees were increasing wages
moderate or serious shortages of workers. and providing health care benefits. Businesses in
Northeast had a stronger reliance on flexible work
• The severity of current and future workforce schedules.
shortages was highest in skilled production (58
percent had some degree of shortage) and scientist • Close to half of respondents had used public
and engineering (40 percent) occupations, and and private placement services. This suggests
lowest in low-skilled production, management and opportunities for placement services to market
administration, and customer service.These were themselves to reach more businesses, particularly
similar to results in 2007 using the Internet since the third most used
placement service is Internet-based job boards.
• Rates of current and future workforce shortages • Slightly more than half of respondents had
in Southwest and Northwest regions exceeded assessed the impact of the aging workforce on
statewide rates, indicating areas with potentially more projected retirements and succession plans.
demand for workforce services. (See map for details.)
• Although current workforce shortages appear TRAINING AND EDUCATION
to be slightly less than those reported in the 2007 • About three-quarters of respondents budgeted less
survey, respondents expect the shortages to become than 3 percent of payroll for training. Slightly more
more significant three years from now, and intensify than half provided company-paid training to less
particularly in skilled production and scientist and than one quarter of employees,while 15 percent of
engineering occupations. respondents did not provide training.
s Businesses indicated that their employees would COMPARISON TO NAM RESULTS
need more training in computer skills (50 percent Minnesota manufacturers appear to face a much
of respondents), process improvement(45 percent), tighter labor market for qualified workers than their
technical skills (43 percent) and problem solving counterparts nationwide, with larger shares of them
skills (40 percent) over the next three years. reporting moderate to serious shortages across most
s Community and technical schools provided the occupational groups.
most effective education and training, according to s Among Minnesota respondents, a high-performance
61 percent of respondents, particularly for training workforce (67 percent) continued to be the principal
students in skills for business needs. factor for business success, followed by product
innovation (46 percent). Their national counterparts,
COLLABORATION WITH EDUCATION however, rated product innovation as the most
s Slightly more than half of respondents had important factor, ahead of a high-performance
previously collaborated with the education system workforce (2009 NAM survey).
. to deal with workforce issues, for example through • Minnesota respondents were much less likely
job fairs, internships or contributions of space or to collaborate with the education system than
equipment. Large employers were much more likely respondents to the nationwide NAM study
to have had such collaborations.
s Regional differences in business collaboration with FINAL THOUGHTS
educational institutions were striking. Northwest Overall, these survey results present both a significant
businesses had the highest rate (70 percent) of challenge and a substantial opportunity for the State of
collaborations. Respondents in the Twin Cities (44 Minnesota, local governments, the education system
percent) and Northeast(50 percent) were least
likely to have had collaborations compared to other and other service providers to align and prioritize
areas. services and support to Minnesota manufacturers.
Because results sometimes varied by geographic
location and size of business, workforce development
GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT professionals and training providers could customize
+► About two-thirds of respondents believed that their approaches and services to better meet the
the State of Minnesota should have moderate or needs of their clients.
significant involvement in assisting manufacturers
to attract and retain a highly effective workforce. FULL REPORT AND APPENDICES
This was more likely true for large and medium AVAILABLE ONLINE AT:
businesses, and businesses in Southeast, Southwest
and Northwest www.PositivelyMinnesota.com/, search "skills gap".
s The preferred forms of support were tax relief
for companies that offer training (41 percent) and METHODOLOGY NOTES
funding for employee training at companies A stratified random sample of 2,400 Minnesota manufacturing
(37 percent). businesses across four size groups received the survey in
electronic or paper format,or in some cases,both.The survey
SIZE DIFFERENCES yielded 511 respondents(for a response rate of 23.9 percent
excluding non-deliverable addresses)for the 2011 survey.
s Large and medium-sized companies tended to Overall,the survey has a confidence interval of+/-4.1 percent,
experience a greater impact of workforce shortages at a level of confidence of 95 percent.Business size groups were:
and use a greater variety of tactics to address such very small(5-19 employess);small(20-74 employees);medium
shortages, than small companies and very small (75-249 employees)and large(250 or more employees).
companies. Large and medium-sized companies had
greater financial capacity for providing training and POSITIVELY
collaborated with educational institutions to a greater
degree to meet workforce and training needs. ?il
Department of Employment and Economic Development
•
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development(DEED)is the state's principal economic development agency,
with programs promoting business recruitment,expansion,and retention;workforce development;international trade;and community
development.The agency's mission is to support the economic success of individuals,businesses,and communities by improving
opportunities for growth.For more information,go to wwwPositivelyMinnesota.com.
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Manufacturing Industry Is Optimistic for 2012
Most of Minnesota's manufacturers expect Profit levels were mixed for manufacturers—
conditions in 2012 to improve or be the same as although 30 percent experienced increased
in 2011. With less than 10 percent of profits,40 percent indicated declines. Increased
manufacturers expecting production and productivity and increased exports for around half
employment to decrease in 2012,manufacturers of manufacturers point to an upbeat outlook for
appear to be optimistic about the coming year. profit levels.
A random sample survey of Minnesota Slightly more than one-third of manufacturers
manufacturers conducted in November by the increased investment in their plant and
Minnesota Department of Employment and equipment,while one-quarter reported decreased
Economic Development(DEED) and the Federal investment in 2011, similar results to those in
Reserve Bank of Minneapolis reports that around 2010. Manufacturers who increased their
half of Minnesota's manufacturers expect growth investments were likely among the 62 percent
in orders and production level in 2012, and facing recent improved access to credit. Access to
slightly less than one-third plan to increase bank credit deteriorated recently for about 10
employment. percent of Minnesota manufacturers, less than
half the percentage (23 percent) of a year ago.
The Manufacturing Industry in 2011
Many Minnesota manufacturers experienced a Outlook on the Manufacturing Industry
better 2011 than 2010. At least half saw growth Minnesota manufacturers expect growth over the
in orders and production levels and slightly more next year to be similar to 2011 levels, or better.
than one-third hired new employees. However, Around half foresee growth in orders and
employment data in manufacturing for the first production levels;the diffusion indices for these
half of 2011 indicates a conservative 2.9 percent indicators are 70 to 71, exceeding the 50
increase. One respondent noted, "We had to make threshold that indicates expansion. While 30
a lot of cuts, costs have gone up, and we have had percent anticipate increasing employment,more
a very hard time." (62 percent) intend to maintain current levels.
Outlook on Economic Performance for Outlook on Economic Performance for
Minnesota's Manufacturing Industry— Minnesota's Manufacturing Industry—
2011,Compared to 2010 2012,Compared to 2011
70% 70%
■Up Same DDown ■Up aSame ❑Down
60% 60%
50% 50%
40% 40% s�
30% . I- 30% � 1 �� t1 L I .-1 1
20% _t s 20% 4 $. _ . . , x
N
1030 ' 4 - n w - 10%
y � � i i
Orders Produc-Employ- Invest- Prices Profits Produc-Exports Orders Produc-Employ- Invest- Prices Profits Produc-Exports
tion merit merit tivity tion ment merit tivity
Continued productivity growth is expected by spending, suggesting they are all expected to
almost one-half of manufacturers. While 41 expand. However, manufacturers' optimism is
percent expect profits to rise, 42 percent expect slightly more subdued for the state economy than
them to be flat. One respondent cautioned, for their own business.
"Prices are very competitive and it's tough to Outlook on State Economic Indicators for 2012
break even on projects."About one-third will 70%
increase investment in plant and equipment but 60%
■Up 13 Same °Down
about one-half will maintain current levels. 50%
40% -- it
Outlook on the State Economy , �t
30% —;-:7&,. t .. 4_ ,
Manufacturers in Minnesota are also somewhat ,—- ¢_ -
optimistic about growth in the state economy over a _
the next year State diffusion indices in 2012 are 0%
above 50 for business investment, employment, Business Employment Consumer Inflation Economic Corporate
investment spending growth profits
economic growth, corporate profits and consumer
2011 Minnesota Manufacturing Business Conditions Survey Results
Diffusion Diffusion
Compared to 2010,in 2011 your location's: Up Same Down Index*,2011 Index*,2010
Number of orders 56% 19% 26% 65 64
Product/service production level 50% 31% 19% 66 65
Employment level_ 35% 46% 19% 58 56
Investment in plant/equipment 34% 41% 25% 54 52
Prices 36% 49% 14% 61 50
Profits 30% 31% 40% 45 50
Productivity 47% 41% 12% 68 66
Exports 50% 39% 11% 70 56
Decrease 0% 1-2% 3-5% 6-9% >10%
Wages per worker 3% 37% 30% 25% 2% 3%
Benefits per worker 9% 45% 16% 20% 5% 4%
Compared to 2011,during 2012 you expect Diffusion Diffusion
your location's: Up Same Down Index*,2011 Index*,2010
Number of orders 53% 35% 11% 71 71
Product/service production level 48% 43% 9% 70 72
Employment level 30% 62% 8% 61 63
Investment in plant/equipment 34% 48% 18% 58 58
Prices 40% 53% 7% 67 62
Profits 41% 42% 17% 62 59
Productivity 47% 46% 7% 70 71
Exports 44% 47% 9% 68 61
Decrease 0% 1-2% 3-5% 6-9% >10%
Wages per worker 2% 30% 39% 28% 0% 1%
Benefits per worker 5% 46% 28% 13% 6% 2%
What is your outlook on the following state Diffusion Diffusion
economic indicators during the next year? Up Same Down Index*,2011 Index*,2010
Business investment 23% 55% 22% 51 52
Employment 30% 54% 16% 57 60
Consumer spending 28% 47% 25% 52 55
Inflation 66% 31% 3% 82 78
Economic growth 27% 45% 28% 49 57
Corporate profits 32% 42% 25% 54 53
Improved Improved Not
Has your company's access to bank credit Yes a lot Yes some No chap le some a lot a'i licable
deteriorated over the past three months? 6% 4% 12% 56% 6% 15%
In what areas,if any,has the change in Capital Inventory
access to bank credit affected your firm's Hiring Expenditures Expansion Levels
future plans?Check all that apply. 18% 40% 28% 21%
*A diffusion index greater than 50 indicates expansion,less than 50 indicates contraction.
Notes:Based on responses from 191 Minnesota manufacturing businesses,for a response rate of19.1 percent. The sampling error is plus or minus 7.04 percentage points at the 95
percent confidence level. Percentages may not add to 100 percent due to rounding.
Prepared by Analysis and Evaluation,Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development,December 2011.