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
February 2010

AREA LABOR FORCE EMPLOYED UNEMPLOYED RATE
Allegan County, MI 52,880 44,983 7,897 14.9
Barry County, MI 28,885 25,408 3,477 12.0
Branch County, MI 20,786 17,739 3,047 14.7
Calhoun County, MI 67,616 59,119 8,497 12.6
Cass County, MI 25,402 21,969 3,433 13.5
Kalamazoo County, MI 130,152 45,805 14,347 11.0
St. Joseph County, MI 27,240 23,324 3,916 14.4
Van Buren County, MI 40,249 33,821 6,428 16.0
Region 393,210 272,168 51,042 13.0
Michigan 4,813,000 4,112,000 701,000 14.6

 

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