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Workforce

Mobile on the Move means having an available and skilled workforce for all types of industries through collaboration between industry and education

The development of a responsive, trained regional workforce for short and long term delivery has been elevated to a priority in the Mobile area. With the rapid economic development growth of the region, the challenge is to produce the high skilled workforce needed to support our incredible diverse growth.

The Mobile Chamber has positioned itself to promote and support the workforce development initiatives for the region and become a proactive partner with the newly formed South Alabama Workforce Development Council Office (SAWDC) – Region 9.  (download County Profiles)

The Chamber collaborated with business and community leaders, to design a strategic plan for workforce development. After working for over a year, the strategic plan was presented to the community in December 2007, and since the South Alabama Workforce Development Council – Region 9 is fully staffed and operational.

The mission of SAWDC is to develop strategic partnerships which attract, educate and train students and workers to better meet employer needs and to foster economic growth in a global marketplace.

The Vision of SAWDC-Region 9 is to develop a comprehensive, integrated workforce development system which creates a skilled, diverse, motivated, adaptable workforce that better meets the needs of the employers and leads to a better quality of life for our citizens.

The Mobile Chamber will continue supporting this effort through the staff of Center for Workforce Development by providing liaison services with the business community, and by meeting with high demand business clusters, and collecting and providing data in the high growth, high demand, high paying sectors.

Workforce Development guiding principles:

  • Focused on business’ needs and the future of our community
  • Development of meaningful partnerships and business coalitions
  • Visionary economic development leadership
  • Excellence in services and deliverables
  • Linking training and education to workforce projections
  • Guiding and recruiting the workforce of the future through multi level approach

South AL Workforce Development Council Strategic Plan (pdf)

Download the tabular data on this page (xls)

more info

Civilian Labor Force Annual Averages Employment and Establishments by Industry Sector Aviation Training Four-Year Colleges and Universities Workforce Coalitions Training Providers Workforce Resources Employment Links

Civilian Labor Force (Current)

Mobile, Baldwin & Washington Counties
(Jul-10)		 Region 9 Area*
(Jul-10)
Total Labor Force 271,375 313,119
Employment 245.564 281,554
Unemployment 25,811 31,565
Unemployment rate 10.5% 11.2%

Alabama Industrial Relations, Monthly Employment Statistics
*Mobile, Baldwin, Washington, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, and Monroe Counties, Alabama

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Annual Averages (Mobile Area)

Mobile and Baldwin Counties19902000200520062007 2008 2009
Total Labor Force215.7271.8257.9264.6272.1 269.9 265.8
Employment201.4259.3247.2255.7262.4 257.4 240.5
Unemployment14.312.510.68.99.9 12.4 25.3
Unemployment Rate6.60%4.60%4.10%3.20%3.70% 4.9% 9.9%
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Employment and Establishments by Industry Sector (Mobile Area)

Industry SectorMobile Bay Area Mobile County Baldwin County
Employees Businesses Employees Businesses Employees Businesses
Agricultural Services, Forestry & Fisheries 1,324 88 1,068 38 256 50
Mining 633 40 353 26 280 14
Construction 21,687 2,457 12,907 1,213 8,780 1,244
Manufacturing 23,587 784 17,474 528 6,113 256
Transportation & Public Utilities 10,358 616 7,858 412 2,500 204
Wholesale Trade 14,759 1,330 11,192 936 3,567 394
Retail Trade 44,717 4,135 28,026 2,482 16,691 1,653
Finance, Insurance, & Real Estate 22,136 2,826 12,765 1,588 9,371 1,238
Services 134,632 12,009 91,035 7,711 43,597 4,298

SOURCE: Decision Data Systems, 2009
NOTE: Alabama Industrial Relations reports only by MSA on industry sector data

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Aviation Training and other Skilled Training

The aviation industry in the Mobile area is on the rise. Continued development and industry expansion has provided the region (and beyond) with a strong and diverse workforce.  The Shipyards and the new steel mills are also recruiting high skilled and semi skilled trained workers and providing additional in-house training.  These are high need, high paying long term job opportunities.

Below are links to resources for employers and those seeking opportunities in these industries.

AIDT (Alabama Industrial Development Training)
Maritime and Industrial pre hire training opportunities
www.aidt.edu

Enterprize-Ozark Community College
Mobile Aviation Center at Brookley Industrial Complex
Larrie Zimmer, Director
251-438-2816, x. 5100

Mobile County SEEDE Program
Contact your high school counselor or Dorinda Franklin, School-to-Career Supervisor
251-221-4025

Mobile County Public School System (MCPSS) Division of Career-Technical Education
251-221-4019

Bryant Career Technical School
Thomas Reed, Principal
251-957-2845

Aviation Academies at Daphne High School and Spanish Fort High School
Thomas Rhodes, Career-Tech Education Coordinator
251-580-1602

J.L. Bedsole Scholars Program
Scott Morton, Asst. Director
251-432-3369

Mobile Works - Workforce Investment Act (WIA) scholarships
Sydney Raine
www.mobile-works.org
251-432-0909

Wingnuts Campaign
www.bamawingnuts.com

NOTE: Several aviation companies in Mobile have training facilities including:

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Four-Year Colleges and Universities

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Workforce Coalitions

The Center for Workforce Development brings business and industry together to address workforce issues and needs through workforce coalitions. A coalition can be defined as a group of companies and organizations within a specific industry who partner with secondary/post-secondary education, and possibly other training providers, to create programs to meet that industry’s workforce needs. In workforce development parlance, such groups are “clusters.” However, the Chamber prefers “coalition” to better reflect the collaborative nature of these groups.

Currently, there are active coalitions for healthcare, aerospace, maritime,  commercial construction manufacturing & technology.

  • Bay Area Healthcare Coalition
    A partnership of Coastal Alabama providers, secondary and post-secondary schools, the Bay Area Healthcare Coalition’s mission is “to create a collaborative partnership focused on identifying and developing education-to-workplace initiative that will support the growing need for qualified healthcare professionals.” Current projects and initiatives include the annual Health Occupations Career Fair and Summer Scrubs program for high school students. For more information contact the Chamber at 251-431-8619.
     
  • Gulf Coast Technology Council
    The Gulf Coast Technology Council was started as a coalition and has developed into a separate organization managed by the Chamber’s Economic Development Dept. As the focal point for technology in South Alabama and the central Gulf Coast, the Gulf Coast Technology Council (GCTC) is helping to transform the area’s economy to take advantage of strengths in three areas: software/information technology, engineering sciences, and biomedicine/biotechnology. For more information contact 251/431-8648 or visit the Council’s website at www.gulfcoasttechnology.com
     
  • Aerospace Coalition
    The Chamber is a partner in this alliance led by the Mobile Airport Authority. Members include aerospace companies in Mobile and Baldwin counties, K-12 and Enterprise-Ozark Community College Aviation College. Activities include support for promotion of dual enrollment programs in both counties, promoting aerospace careers and community events. For more information, contact the Chamber at 251-433-6951.
     
  • Maritime Coalition
    Established in mid-2006 based on interest from area shipyards. The initial focus of this coalition is increasing the capacity to train welders and ship fitters. For more information, contact the Chamber at 251-433-6951.
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Training Providers

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Workforce Resources

Alabama Department of Industrial Relations
Link to Alabama Department of Industrial Relations for labor market information for Mobile, employer services, tools for job seekers and more.

Alabama Office of Workforce Development
State Office charged with improving coordination and the achievement of 4 objectives under the Workforce Investment Act: increasing accountability streamlining services, providing universal access to services and empowering individuals in training & career choices.

Mobile Works
Mobile Works manages Mobile Counties publicly-funded workforce development system, operating under the state and federal Workforce Investment Act. (WIA)

U. S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for a Competitive Workforce

U. S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration
Find information about federal workforce initiatives and programs

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Employment Links

Search Companies for openings

Job Seekers

Employers

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