Part-time job openings numerous in Mitchell

Oct 11, 2008 (The Daily Republic - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- MCD | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Uncertain economic times are causing more South Dakotans to seek additional part-time employment, according to an official from the state Department of Labor, and in Mitchell there are plenty of opportunities.

According to Jean Anderson of the state Department of Labor, there are 330 part-time jobs open in the city, a trend that bucks predictions earlier this year that a raise in minimum wage would instead decrease opportunities for part-time work.

Anderson this week estimated Davison County's unemployment rate at 3.3 percent, about half of the national unemployment rate of 6.1 percent.

Davison County's unemployment rate is good news, Anderson said, but it leaves a demand for employees, including part-time workers willing to work nights and weekends. That is where older residents in search of additional income could play a major role in the region.

At one of the DOL's job fairs held in September, Anderson said she noticed an increase in the number of people 35 and older seeking employment.

"They were either coming out of retirement ... or had a full-time job and said they would like a part-time job," she said. "It was a little different."

Anderson said she hasn't seen any shifting employment trends directly related to the state's minimum wage increase in July, which saw the wage go from $5.85 to $6.55. Many predicted at the time that the increase would prompt a corresponding decrease in job openings as small companies cut positions to make ends meet.

One thing that happened in the interim, however, was an increase in the number of open part-time jobs. In September, The Daily Republic reported 250 openings.

With so many part-time positions available in the Mitchell area, job-seekers have options and Anderson expects many of those openings to be pursued by workers who find themselves in need of some extra income to supplement increasing energy and food prices.

Anderson estimated 50 percent of attendees at a recent job fair "had been out of the labor market for some time," leaving employers with a wider pool of potential applicants to choose from. That's especially important as the holiday season approaches, although it has yet to be determined how much seasonal employment will be available, Anderson said.

"We don't know what to expect this time around because of the economy the way it is," she said.

For two Mitchell businesses, though, the search for employees has been less than challenging.

As she prepared to reopen Ben Franklin at a new location in downtown Mitchell in September, owner Janice Christensen attended a Mitchell job fair. She promptly found four part-time employees and filled the remaining positions through word-of-mouth.

Christensen said she was unsure of how long it would take to fill the positions and was "pleasantly surprised" at how quickly she fully staffed her business.

"I guess you're always apprehensive," Christensen said. "It all worked out well."

While Christensen said she's unsure if additional employees will be necessary to handle the upcoming holiday season, Bruce Haines said there's always a need for employees in both of the town's McDonald's restaurants.

Haines, director of operations for both locations, estimated an additional 10 employees could be put to use. He's always on the search for employees, since many of his employees' schedules and lifestyles can change in an instant.

"It's kind of an ever-continuous hunt for people because ... there are a lot of kids and a lot of part-time people who have commitments come up in their life," Haines said.

Anderson doesn't believe the minimum wage hike has negatively affected the number of full- or part-time positions available, although employers likely are keeping a cautious eye on their finances, given the combination of the increase and economic uncertainty.

"We have not heard that (businesses) can't afford to hire another part-time person because of the wage increase," she said. "I'm sure employers are watching hours closely. In today's economy, you need to do that."

The wage increase changed little at McDonald's, Haines said, since the restaurant's starting wage is $7.50 per hour.

Haines believes the higher starting pay is "a compliment to our people" that rewards them for hard work while encouraging employees to stay. Being open 18 hours a day means there are a variety of shifts available for potential and current employees.

He gives credit to the Mitchell economy, which is less volatile and prone to sudden shifts than other markets in the nation.

Because of that, he foresees a positive employment situation in the city's future.

"We don't go as fast when the economy moves fast and we don't go as slow when the economy moves slow. We kind of keep the middle of the road," Haines said. "I think Mitchell will have a prosperous few years when the rest of the economy gets slow."

By AUSTIN KAUS

The Daily Republic

Uncertain economic times are causing more residents to pursue additional part-time employment, according to an official from the South Dakota Department of Labor, but not everyone is following their pursuits through.

Jean Anderson of the DOL said she's seeing a trend of job hunters who are refusing to follow up after the first interview.

"There were a number of places where business indicated that the person did not show up for orientation," she said. "The lack of follow through has been a major concern."

While the trend is unusual for Anderson, it's just one of the many challenges she faces in finding residents to fill positions, especially as the approaching months could call for a higher employee demand.

Anderson estimated Davison County's unemployment rate at 3.3 percent, slightly more than half of September's national unemployment rate of 6.1 percent.

Davison County's unemployment rate is relatively good, Anderson said, but it still leaves a demand for employees, including part-time workers willing to work nights and weekends. That, she said, is where older residents in search of additional income could play a major role in the region.

At one of the DOL's job fairs held in September, Jean Anderson, of the DOL, said she noticed an increase in the number of individuals 35 and older seeking employment.

"(T)hey were either coming out of retirement ... or had a full time job and said they would like a part time job," she said. "It was a little different."

With 330 part-time positions available in the Mitchell area, job-seekers have options and Anderson expects many of them to be pursued by individuals who find themselves in need of some extra income to supplement increasing energy and food prices.

Anderson estimated 50 percent of attendees to a recent job fair "had been out of the labor market for some time," leaving employers with a wider pool of potential applicants to choose from. That's especially important as the holiday season approaches, although it has yet to be determined how much seasonal employment will be available, Anderson said.

"We don't know what to expect this time around because of the economy the way it is," she said.

For two Mitchell businesses, though, the search for employees has been less than challenging.

As she prepared to reopen Ben Franklin at a new location in downtown Mitchell in September, owner Janice Christensen attended a Mitchell job fair. She promptly found four part-time employees and filled the remaining positions through word-of-mouth.

Christensen said she was unsure of how long it would take to fill the positions and was "pleasantly surprised" at how quickly she fully staffed her business.

"I guess you're always apprehensive," Christensen said. "It all worked out well."

While Christensen said she's unsure if additional employees will be necessary to handle the upcoming holiday season, Bruce Haines said there's always a need for employees in both of the town's McDonald's Restaurants.

Haines, director of operations for both locations, estimated an additional 10 employees could be put to use in Mitchell. He's always on the search for employees, since many of his employees' schedules and lifestyles can change in an instant.

"It's kind of an ever-continuous hunt for people because ... there are a lot of kids and a lot of part time people who have commitments come up in their life," Haines said.

Anderson doesn't believe that a July increase of South Dakota's minimum wage from $5.85 to $6.55 has negatively affected the number of full or part-time positions available, although it's likely that employers are keeping a cautious eye on their finances given the combination of the minimum wage increase and current economic uncertainty.

"We have not heard that (businesses) can't afford to hire another part-time person because of the wage increase," she said. "I'm sure employers are watching hours closely. In today's economy, you need to do that."

The wage increase changed little at McDonald's, Haines said, since the fast food restaurants' starting wage is $7.50 per hour.

Haines believes the higher starting pay is "a compliment to our people" that rewards them for hard work while encouraging employees to stay at the restaurant. Being open 18 hours a day means there are a variety of shifts available for potential and current employees.

He gives credit to the Mitchell economy, which is less volatile and prone to sudden shifts than other markets in the nation.

Because of that, he foresees a positive employment situation in the city's future.

"We don't go as fast when the economy moves fast and we don't go as slow when the economy moves slow. We kind of keep the middle of the road," Haines said. "I think Mitchell will have a prosperous few years when the rest of the economy gets slow."

To see more of The Daily Republic, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.mitchellrepublic.com. Copyright (c) 2008, The Daily Republic, Mitchell, S.D. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

More News:   Market Updates | Stock Alerts | All Trading News | Stock Index