Winneshiek County employers could be getting some help in finding new employees

The labor market in Winneshiek County has been tight in recent months—but help is on the way.

Iowa Workforce Development and Iowa Economic Development Authority will begin surveying the labor markets in the northern counties of Iowa starting in July, with Winneshiek County's survey being done either this fall or next spring.

Iowa Workforce Development staffer Ryan Murphy is in charge of the project.  He tells decorahnews.com that Winneshiek County is a good example of an area where the labor workforce comes from further away than employers might realize.  He says workers in Southeastern Minnesota, Western Wisconsin and other counties in Northeast Iowa would be willing to drive to Decorah for work.   Murphy tells decorahnews.com the work will include a landline and cell phone survey.

Because county labor market studies use data from surrounding counties, 44 counties in northern Iowa will be surveyed in the first year of the program and the remaining 45 counties in southern Iowa will be done the second year of the program.  The surveys will cost a total of $1.9 million over two years, with state and federal funds paying for the project.  The workforce studies will be available to everyone, including employers, after they are completed.