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Workforce & Talent

Every attempt has been made to provide current, accurate, and consistent data in this database. There may be some differences due to sources, methodologies, or timing of data-assembly.

WU, WU Tech awarded $20 million grant
Posted: September 28, 2011 - 5:20pm

By The Capital-Journal

Washburn University and the Washburn Institute of Technology have been awarded a $20 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, the school announced Wednesday.
The grant — called the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training grant — will be used to support the collaborative effort of seven Kansas community and technical colleges to provide workers with academic and industry-recognized credentials and training to meet the need for a skilled work force.
The grant also will expand and improve the provision of training opportunities to a large geographical pool of eligible applicants.
The training programs will be student-, worker- and employer-centered.
Washburn Tech will serve as group leader for the grant, while other members in the consortium include Cloud County Community College, in Concordia; Dodge City Community College; Flint Hills Technical College, in Emporia; Garden City Community College; Highland Community College; and Salina Area Technical College.
“Washburn University is excited to work with partners in providing academic and industry-recognized credentials that better meet the need for a skilled work force,” Jerry Farley, Washburn president, said in a news release. “Each consortium partner offers a signature program that expands and improves the provision of training opportunities to a large geographical pool of eligible workers.”
Through an enhanced training center and redesigned curriculum, the advanced systems technology/industrial maintenance program at Washburn Tech will expand to meet local and regional needs.
The grant, which merges the efforts of the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Education toward the common goal of putting Americans back to work, represents an initial round of community college and career training funds, which are being awarded to 32 grantees across the nation.

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March 2012 Labor Report
Unemployment in Kansas and Topeka MSA

Source: Kansas Department of Labor March 2012. Released April 20, 2012.

March 2012 Labor Report
For Immediate Release
12:01 a.m., April 20, 2012

TOPEKA, Kan. – The March 2012 Labor Report showed slight monthly employment gains and continued improvement since 2011 including a 2.1 percent increase in private sector jobs since March 2011.

In the past year, Kansas gained 22,700 private sector jobs. It also added 20,100 nonfarm jobs, a 1.5 percent expansion since March 2011. Monthly gains, mostly due to seasonal changes, totaled 8,600 private jobs and 10,800 nonfarm jobs. Both of these numbers were a 0.8 percent increase since February.

"Job growth continues to be steady at a time when we would prefer it to be more robust. We sense a slight hesitancy to do additional hiring," Karin Brownlee, Kansas Secretary of Labor, said.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.2 percent, a decline from 6.8 percent one year ago and a slight increase from 6.1 percent in February. The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Kansas was 6.6 percent, down from 7.1 percent one year ago and the same as February.

Eight of the 11 major industries in Kansas reported job gains during the past year. The professional and business services industry has gained 11,700 jobs since March 2011, an 8 percent increase.

There were also eight industries that showed job increases over the month. Leisure and hospitality showed the greatest gain with 3,200 jobs added, a 2.9 percent increase. These gains were mostly seen in food services and drinking establishments throughout the state.

"The March report is reflecting mixed signals in the labor market. Employment grew slightly over the month, thanks in part to hiring at restaurants and other food service establishments," Tyler Tenbrink, Labor Economist, said. "However, results from a household survey show the labor force continued to decline for a third consecutive month and the unemployment rate ticked up 0.1 percent."

Continued unemployment benefit claims decreased from February and when compared to this time last year. Initial unemployment benefit claims for March increased slightly over the month, but decreased compared to March 2011.

The April 2012 Labor Report will be released on May 18, 2012. For more information, visit www.dol.ks.gov Follow KansasDOL on Twitter and Facebook.

State of Kansas Average Weekly Wages

March 2012 Current Employment Statistics (CES) data
Not Seasonally Adjusted, in Topeka, KS Metropolitan Statistical Area 

 Source: Kansas Labor Information Center

Kansas Wage Survey Data
Kansas Job Vacancy Report for 2010
Data Manufacturing Industry Report
Washburn Tech Custom Training Process
Kansas Workforce Ranking
Highest Ranked Industries Report
45 Minute Labor Draw Map
Wage Comparisons Top 10 Topeka Manufacturing
Wage Comparisons Top 10 Topeka Distribution
Wage Comparisons Top 10 Topeka Health Services

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
Topeka MSA 3rd Qtr 2011

Source: Kansas Department of labor, Labor Market Information Services

Topeka MSA Employment and Wage Estimates

(1) Topeka MSA includes the following counties:  Jackson, Jefferson, Osage, Shawnee and Wabaunsee.
(2) Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(3) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(4) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(5) Wages for some occupations that do not generally work year-round, full time, are reported either as hourly wages or annual salaries depending on how they are typically paid.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Occupational Employment Statistics, 2009 (latest full year available)
 

The Creative Class

The Creative Class is a socioeconomic class that economist and social scientist Richard Florida, a professor and head of the Martin Prosperity Institute at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, identifies as a key driving force for economic development of post-industrial cities in the United States. Florida describes the Creative Class as comprising 40 million workers—30 percent of the U.S. workforce—and breaks the class into two broad sections, derived from Standard Occupational Classification System codes:

• Super-Creative Core: This group comprises about 12 percent of all U.S. jobs. It includes a wide range of occupations (e.g. science, engineering, education, computer programming, research), with arts, design, and media workers forming a small subset. Florida considers those belonging to this group to “fully engage in the creative process” (2002, p. 69). The Super-Creative Core is considered innovative, creating commercial products and consumer goods. The primary job function of its members is to be creative and innovative. “Along with problem solving, their work may entail problem finding” (Florida, 2002, p. 69).
• Creative Professionals: These professionals are the classic knowledge-based workers and include those working in healthcare, business and finance, the legal sector, and education. They “draw on complex bodies of knowledge to solve specific problems” using higher degrees of education to do so (Florida, 2002). (Wikipedia, 2011). Creative class employment has seen relatively low rates of unemployment during the course of the economic crisis. Creative class jobs will make up roughly half of all projected U.S. employment growth - adding 6.8 million new jobs by 2018.

Source: CreativeClass.com

Research conducted by Kiplinger and the Martin Prosperity Institute, ranked Topeka 17th in the nation, and first among Kiplinger’s top ten cities, in its percentage of workforce in the “Creative Class.” The study puts 37% of Topeka’s working population with jobs in the creative class, which includes scientists, engineers, educators, writers, artists, entertainers and other who “inject both economic and cultural vitality into a city and help make it a vibrant place to live,” according to the magazine.

Top 25 Best Cities for the Next Decade by Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class

 Kiplinger's Best Cities 2010

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, The Martin Prosperity Institute.

Topeka/Shawnee County Population Density Map

Young Professional Activities

For that special night out, or just a Saturday night with friends, you'll find a wide variety of activities in Topeka/Shawnee County. The Chamber recommends the following resources: The seveneightfive publication gets rave reviews from young professionals attending the Chamber's Fast Forward events at local hot spots.  seveneightfive, a lifestyle magazine focusing on area entertainment venues with reviews, commentary and a path to the entertainment industry. The notion that Topeka night life doesn't exist is simply a vicious rumor. The magazine provides a voice to the entertainment industry and a list of great local options when it comes to quenching a thirst for things to do right here in Topeka. Also, check out these helpful community calendars: The Topeka Capital-Journal's Online Event Calendar. The Topeka Chamber Community Calendar of Events. The Visit Topeka Calendar of Events. The Topeka Capital-Journal's Food and Flicks online site.   FastFoward Fast Forward hosts monthly social networking events where Topekans ages 20-40 can share ideas, learn something new and always just have fun. A wider network means the opportunity for new, fresh ideas to improve the way we work -- and better problem solving. Fast Forward also hosts educational luncheons with speakers addressing topics of interest to young professionals. Fast Forward plans volunteering and service activities associated with networking events or community projects. Attendance means added exposure for your company in the business community. It's also a great way to recognize your energetic young employees, enhance their leadership abilities, and reinforce their value to your company. Employees who feel valued are more satisfied, productive, and stay longer.

Commuting Patterns

Click on the images for a larger view.

Commuting Patterns: Labor Force