Job Vacancy Survey Findings Released for San Luis Valley

Survey finds record increase in job openings

(Denver)  Employers in the San Luis Valley reported more vacancies this summer than a year ago according to a new Job Vacancy Survey report issued by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.

In this survey, an estimated 328 jobs were open for immediate hire – the highest number since the beginning of the surveys in the region.  This time last year, 97 vacancies were estimated.  “This record increase in vacancies along with the increase in job growth further confirms the on-going economic recovery in the Colorado labor market”, says Rick Grice, The Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.

The survey of job vacancies was conducted from September 12 through September 23 2005 in the San Luis Valley region.  The region comprises the following counties: Saguache, Mineral, Rio Grande, Alamosa, Conejos and Costilla.  A total of 433 employers representing 53 percent of the region’s total employment were surveyed to produce this snapshot of the region’s job market.

Of the 6 groups of supersectors surveyed, construction, manufacturing, natural resources and mining offer the highest number of job opportunities with 115 estimated vacancies.  Education and health services follow with 75 job openings.  Leisure and hospitality has 42 estimated vacancies while Trade, transportation and utilities and other services has 40.

Small to mid-size employers account for almost three quarters of the estimated vacancies while large employers account for 15 percent.  Government has slightly over one-tenth of the reported vacancies.

This latest Job Vacancy Survey for San Luis Valley region is now available online at http://www.coworkforce.com/lmi/WRA/home.htm.  A summary of the survey is provided on the next page.

About the Summer 2005 San Luis Valley Job Vacancy Survey

The summer 2005 San Luis Valley Job Vacancy Survey (JVS) was conducted from September 12^th through September 23^rd 2005. The goal of the survey is to provide current information on the demand for workers.   This information can serve as input into the decision making process for employers, job seekers, economic developers, educators, and workforce centers in the region.

Over the survey period, all large and government employers as well as a random sample of private employers with five or more employees in the region were contacted.  Employers were asked if they were actively hiring at the time of the survey and the number of positions they were seeking to fill.

This survey, which used to be done once a year, will now be conducted twice a year to provide frequent and timely analysis of the demand for labor.  Previous surveys collected occupational and wage information.  Beginning with this survey, the Job Vacancy Survey will not be reporting to that level of detail but will still give the estimate of total job vacancies in the region to the same degree of accuracy as before, only quicker. 

A total of 433 employers representing 53 percent of the region’s total employment responded to the survey. Of these, 87 are Government agencies, 13 are large employers and 333 are small to mid-size employers. The response rate for this survey is 82 percent.  The margin of sampling error for the overall vacancy estimate is plus or minus 10 percent or about 34 vacancies. 

Major Findings of Survey:

• An estimated 328 jobs were available for hire during this survey period, up from 97 vacancies a year ago.         

• Construction, manufacturing, natural resources and mining has the highest number of estimated vacancies (115), followed by education and health services (75).

• All groups of super sectors report more vacancies in this survey than a year ago.

• Small to mid-size companies provide the most vacancies with 243.  However, since there are more small to mid-size firms there are actually fewer vacancies per employer compared to large employers.  There are more that 3 vacancies per large private employer compared to an average of less than one vacancy per employer for both government and small to mid-size firms.

• Sixteen percent of surveyed employers report at least one job vacancy.