Our Growing Workforce Shortage

Our Growing
Workforce Shortage
BACKGROUND
• Current unemployment rate for Gillespie Co. is 2.7
percent, compared to a state average of 5.1 and a
national average of 6.3
• Newspaper averages 200 job listings each week
• Numerous local businesses currently posting help
wanted signs on the front of their establishments.
• GCEDC projects another 500 workers needed within
the next few years to accommodate the needs of
new developments
LOCAL LABOR TASK FORCE
• INITIAL PARTICIPANTS
Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce
City of Fredericksburg
Gillespie County Economic Development Commission
• OTHER PARTICIPANTS
Hill Country University Center
Fredericksburg Convention and Visitor Bureau
Fredericksburg ISD
Hill Country Memorial
Fredericksburg Standard Radio Post
KEY TASK FORCE GOALS
• Gain better understanding of current and future
labor force problem and how it impacts our local
economy
• Identify public and private resources and
partnerships that might assist in addressing problem
• Identify key challenges that are causing our local
labor force problems
• Develop and implement solutions to create an
expanded quality labor force to serve the Gillespie
County area
CHALLENGES
•
•
•
•
•
Lack of affordable housing
Shortage of childcare options
Limited transportation
Low wages/benefits
Limited training opportunities
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
• Task Force Subcommittee
Tim Lehmberg-EDC
Brian Jordan-City
Kent Myers-City
Key Housing Needs
• Workforce Housing-Owner Occupied
• Workforce Housing-Multi Family Rental
• Student Housing-Multi Family Rental
PROGRESS ON
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
• Completed survey of local multi-family properties
• Initiated new 36-unit townhouse development now
under construction
• Started discussions with non-profit agency (Hill Country
Home Opportunity Council, Inc.)
• Reviewed possible sites for affordable housing
subdivision
• Held council discussions on affordable housing needs and
possible city participation
• Scheduled meeting with Texas Department of Housing
and Community Affairs to discuss state programs
CHILDCARE OPTIONS
• Chamber survey identified no weekend or
after hours care available
• All providers have wait lists (even for children
not yet conceived)
• Infant care is especially limited
TRANSPORTATION
• Large number of
current employees
already commute
• Discussion with Alamo
Regional Transit, along
with local
transportation
providers, about
possible commuter
routes
WAGE/BENEFITS
• Compensation survey
• Need for employers to get more creative
about compensation and perks
TRAINING
• New FISD approach, including vocational
opportunities
• Community College Partnership
• Texas Tech University
• Chamber Workshop Series
(coming soon: values-based
hiring and employee
retention)
UPCOMING TASK FORCE
ACTIVITIES
• Discussions with private job placement company
• Initiation and promotion of county-wide job bank
• Creation of job fair in association with local
businesses
• Expansion of support services provided by
workforce solutions
• Meetings with key non-profit and private
affordable housing developers
For Additional Information
Contact
Kent Myers, City Manager
(830) 997-7521
[email protected]