Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Dakota Midday: Economics, Jobs & Leadership

By Kealey Bultena
SDPB Radio



The conversations of Dakota Midday on Tuesday, September 29, 2015 are woven together with an economics thread.

Workforce initiatives can't rely on the quality of jobs in South Dakota if they want to attract people from other regions. Research shows the way younger people choose careers is different than you might expect. J. Mac Holladay is the founder and CEO of Market Street Services based in Atlanta, Georgia. He explains why place may matter more than a certain kind of employment.



To read the full story, please click here, or if the story has been removed please contact Alexia Eanes for more information.

Friday, September 25, 2015

Spartanburg leaders eye long-term community vision

By Trevor Anderson
GoUpstate.com



Local business leaders decided this week to develop a long-term vision for Spartanburg County and its economic growth.

The Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce's board voted Thursday to approve the hiring of Market Street Services, an Atlanta-based strategic planning firm that has helped cities like Nashville, Austin and Tulsa, chart a path to prosperity.

Market Street will soon begin the 10-month project to devise the plan that will be the foundation for a community development strategy.



To read the full story, please click here, or if the story has been removed please contact Alexia Eanes for more information.

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Schwan: The comings and goings of the Sioux Falls workforce

By Jodi Schwan
Argus Leader



I read the whole 75-page report on workforce development released last week, but I kept repeating one statistic in there whenever I talked about it.

So it’s probably worth writing about it, too:

In the five years between 2006 and 2011, 1,050 people moved from Sioux Falls to the Minneapolis metro area.

But listen to this.

In that same time, 950 people moved from the Minneapolis area to Sioux Falls.



To read the full story, please click here, or if the story has been removed please contact Alexia Eanes for more information.

Thursday, September 17, 2015

SF Stakeholders Reveal Long-Term Plan For Sustainable Workforce

By Kealey Bultena
SDPB Radio



A coalition of Sioux Falls area leaders is setting priorities for workforce. Business, education, government, and community stakeholders are applying national and local economic data to develop a plan for sustainability.

Forward Sioux Falls and a company called Market Street services collected data for six months. The information spans across platforms: innovation, economic performance, workforce capacity, quality of life, business environment, labor market, public education, technical programs and higher ed.



To read or listen to the full story, please click here, or if the story has been removed please contact Alexia Eanes for more information.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Report: Tech schools pivotal to Sioux Falls' future

By Patrick Anderson
Argus Leader



Jeff Moffatt wanted to learn skills he could use in the family business.

But it only took a few classes at Southeast Tech for the 25-year-old Watertown native to learn about job opportunities that might go beyond Moffatt Products, his dad's company and a maker of the sort of flexible arms used in lamps.

Moffatt thinks a two-year degree in computer-aided drafting will net him a bigger salary than a degree in engineering.

"There's just a higher demand right now," he said with a smile and a head shake. "It's super cheap for a two-year degree."

Providing for Sioux Falls' future job growth means attracting and educating more people like Moffatt, who are interested in careers that don't require a four-year degree, according to a company hired to study the city's workforce needs.

A representative for Market Street Services presented findings Wednesday at the University Center in Sioux Falls for a crowd of business leaders and educators.



To read the full story, please click here, or if the story has been removed, contact Alexia Eanes for more information.

Solutions to Improve Sioux Falls' Workforce

By Brady Mallory
KELOLAND TV



According to a new report from a workforce strategy task force, wages are up across the board in Sioux Falls. That is because managers and business owners are raising pay in order to fill jobs.

"We're on the hunt. It's a struggle," Mike McGreevy, MacKenzie River Pizza general manager, said. "You'll see signs for fast food restaurants, starting at $10, $11 and $12 per hour, which some would call that a living wage."

You can spot "Help Wanted" all over the city. These two little words can create big problems for bosses who are trying to staff their businesses.

"Most of the professional people we ask don't know very much about the overall economy. They only know they can't find the right person for the job," Mac Holladay, Market Street Services, said.



To read the full story, please click here, or if the story/video has been removed, contact Alexia Eanes for more information.

Forward Sioux Falls unveils action plan aimed at workforce development

By Tess Hedrick
KSFY, abc



It's clear the population of Sioux Falls continues to grow, along with its economic growth. There are warning signs that this growth may not be sustainable unless steps are taken to enhance the workforce availability and skills.

Forward Sioux Falls has raised more than $25 million since its founding in 1987 to enhance Sioux Falls economic development efforts and improve the quality of life.

Recently, they worked with the consulting firm 'Market Street Services' to conduct a six-month study to assess where the Sioux Falls region is, in terms of both the workforce and education needs.




To read the full story, please click here, or if the story has been removed, contact Alexia Eanes for more information.

Competitive assessment shows city’s strength for startups

By Jodi Schwan
Argus Leader


Sioux Falls ranks high for economic activity and opportunity but lags other cities in average wages, and research and development activity.

Those are some of the findings of a competitive assessment completed by Market Street Services as part of its workforce study for Forward Sioux Falls.


To read the full story, please click here, or if the story has been removed, contact Alexia Eanes for more information.