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Mobile touts an available and skilled workforce for all types of industries accomplished through collaboration between industry and educational training.

The challenge to our industries and businesses is to produce the highly-skilled workforce needed to support our diverse growth.

The Mobile Area Chamber positioned itself to promote and support the region's workforce development initiatives and is a proactive partner with the South Alabama Workforce Development Council Office (SAWDC) - Region 9.

The mission of the business led group is to develop strategic partnerships that attract, educate and train students and workers to better meet employer needs and foster economic growth in a global marketplace.

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

The Mobile Area Chamber will continue supporting this effort through the staff of its Center for Workforce Development, the liaison to the business community, by focusing on 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;
  • Develops meaningful partnerships and business coalitions;
  • Provides visionary economic development leadership;
  • Delivers excellence in services and deliverables;
  • Links training and education to workforce projections; and
  • Guides and recruits the workforce of the future through multi-level approach.

South Alabama Workforce Development Council Strategic Plan

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 (Dec-11)

Region 9 Area*
(Dec-11)

Total Labor Force

278,258

320,025

Employment

255,675

291,896

Unemployment

22,583

  28,129

Unemployment rate

9.4%

  9.6%

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 Counties

 1990 2000 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total Labor Force 215.7 271.8 257.9 264.6 272.1 269.9 265.8 264.6
Employment 201.4 259.3 247.2 255.7 262.4 257.4 240.5 238.5
Unemployment 14.3 12.5 10.6 8.9 9.9 12.4 25.3 26.13
Unemployment Rate 6.60% 4.60% 4.10% 3.20% 3.70% 4.9% 9.9% 9.9%
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Employment and Establishments by Industry Sector (Mobile Area)

Industry Sector Mobile Bay Area Mobile County Baldwin County
Employees Businesses Employees Businesses Employees Businesses
Agricultural Services, Forestry & Fisheries 1,411 208 1,155 158 256 50
Mining 764 51 484 37 280 14
Construction 20,281 1,964 12,386 1,139 7,895 825
Manufacturing 22,101 624 16,205 453 5,896 171
Transportation & Public Utilities 10,358 616 7,858 412 2,500 204
Wholesale Trade 14,759 1,272 11,963 878 3,567 394
Retail Trade 44,717 4,526 28,026 3,268 16,691 1,258
Finance, Insurance, & Real Estate 19,706 2,538 11,132 1,533 8,574 1,005
Services 117,243 9,723 81,029 6,401 36,214 3,322

SOURCE: Decision Data Systems, 2010
NOTE: Alabama Industrial Relations reports only by MSA on industry sector data

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Aviation/Aerospace Training and other Skilled Training

A highly skilled workforce and top notch training programs are just two assets that make the Mobile area the perfect location for your business expansion. Among the diverse industries with the highest skilled employees are aviation/aerospace, ship building, steel, manufacturing and healthcare.

Below are links to resources for those seeking training opportunities in these industries:

AIDT
Industrial pre-hire training opportunities
www.aidt.edu

Mobile Aviation Center at Brookley Aeroplex
Enterprize-Ozark Community College
Larrie Zimmer, Director
251-438-2816, extension 5100

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

Mobile County Public School System (MCPSS) Division of Career-Technical Education and Workforce
251-221-4821

Bryant Career Technical School
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, Assistant Director
251-432-3369

Mobile Works - Workforce Investment Act (WIA) scholarships for high-need/high-demand areas
Sydney Raine
www.mobile-works.org
251-432-0909

Technical Colleges

Training Centers

Community Colleges

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Four-Year Colleges and Universities

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Workforce Coalitions

The Mobile Area Chamber's Center for Workforce Development (CWD) brings business and industry together to address workforce issues and needs. Through collaborative industry coalitions, defined as a group within a specific industry who partner with secondary/post-secondary education and other training providers, the CWD works to create programs to meet that industry’s workforce needs.

Currently, there are active coalitions for healthcare, aerospace, maritime, commercial construction, manufacturing and 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 identify and develop education-to-workplace initiatives supporting 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 or 800-422-6951.
     
  • Gulf Coast Technology Council
    The Gulf Coast Technology Council (GCTC), managed by the Mobile Area Chamber’s economic development department, is the focal point for technology in south Alabama and the Central Gulf Coast. The GCTC is helping transform the area’s economy 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 the Enterprise-Ozark Community College Aviation College. The alliance supports dual enrollment programs, promoting aerospace careers and community events. For more information, contact the Chamber at 251-433-6951 or 800-422-6951.
     
  • Maritime Coalition
    The initial focus of the Maritime Coalition is increasing the training of welders and ship fitters. For more information, contact the Chamber at 251-433-6951 or 800-422-6951.  
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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.

Mobile Works
Mobile Works manages Mobile city's and county's 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 here.

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