Workforce

Pay Rates of Underemployed Workers in the Kalamazoo Region

Hourly Pay Rate Number of available underemployed workers Hourly Pay Rate Number of available underemployed workers
$7.99 or Less 400 $17.00 - $17.99 2,100
$8.00 - $8.99 1,300 $18.00 - $18.99 400
$9.00 - $9.99 2,900 $19.00 - $19.99 2,100
$10.00 - $10.99 5,900 $20.00 - $20.99 800
$11.00 - $11.99 2,100 $21.00 - $21.99 1,700
$12.00 - $12.99 2,900 $22.00 - $22.99 1,200
$13.00 - $13.99 2,100 $23.00 - $23.99 100
$14.00 - $14.99 1,700 $24.00 - $24.99 1,300
$15.00 - $15.99 2,100 $25.00 - $25.99 800
$16.00 - $16.99 1,200 $26.00 or More 800

 

Available Workers

Number of underemployed workers 33,900
Number of unemployed persons who are actively seeking work 22,900
Number of persons who are not working, but would consider re-entering the workforce 5,200
Total Number of Workers Available for Employers 62,000

 

Employment Skills of Underemployed Workers

Skills Number of Persons Percentage
Manufacturing/Assembly/Fabrication 21,400 63%
Office Operations 19,700 58%
Warehouse/Distribution/Transportation 16,600 49%
Customer Service 16,600 49%
Sales 12,900 38%
Maintenance/Installation Repair 9,500 28%
Medical/Health Sciences 7,100 21%
Electronics/Engineering 6,400 19%
Information Technology 5,400 16%
Telecommunications 5,100 15%
Call Center 3,700 11%

 

Underemployed workers are defined as individuals working below their skill and/or education levels.  Download the entire Labor Availability Report for the Kalamazoo Region.

Source:  The Pathfinders 2007

Unemployment Rates
September 2009

AREA LABOR FORCE EMPLOYED UNEMPLOYED RATE
Allegan County, MI 54,344 47,174 7,170 13.2
Barry County, MI 28,725 25,714 3,011 10.5
Branch County, MI 21,821 18,769 3,052 14.0
Calhoun County, MI 66,594 58,337 8,260 12.4
Cass County, MI 25,498 22,586 2,912 11.4
Kalamazoo County, MI 128,413 114,009 14,404 11.2
St. Joseph County, MI 30,613 26,363 4,250 13.9
Van Buren County, MI 38,536 33,431 5,150 13.2
Region 394,544 346,383 48,209 12.2
Michigan 4,826,000 4,113,000 713,000 14.8

 

Source:  Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth

Commuters Into Kalamazoo County from Surrounding Counties

Allegan County 4,020 Calhoun County 3,755
Barry County 2,413 Cass County 527
Berrien County 466 St. Joseph County 2,310
Branch County 192 Van Buren County 9,205

 

Source:  United States Census Bureau, March 6, 2003