Wage Survey and Labor Market Characteristics for Lawrence/Douglas County

Abstract

Wages and other labor market characteristics such as the availability of a well educated work force and the educational level of employees are factors that increasingly affect the locational and/or expansion decisions of companies. Moreover, human resources have been recognized by the state as one of the key strategic elements for economic development. Compiling up-to-date information on wages and relevant labor market characteristics is therefore a prerequisite in the community's effort to promote economic development. Recruiting and retaining companies is more successful when an accurate and objective database on the community's labor issues can be provided.

From another perspective, up-to-date wage information is important for local companies of all sizes to maintain a competitive wage structure. The data on basic labor market characteristics provides local companies with the information necessary to assess the potential of the Douglas County labor pool in terms of skill and educational levels of employees.

A comprehensive survey of 169 business and non-business establishments in Douglas County has been conducted to obtain data on wages and labor market characteristics.