Shoals Economic Development Authority

DOING BUSINESS
IN THE SHOALS

Economic Data

Business Climate

Shoals Economic Development Authority

Phone:
(256) 764-0351
1-800-239-6087
FAX: (256) 764-3850
20 Hightower Place
Suite 1
P.O. Box 580
Florence, Alabama 35630

E-mail:

	about the shoals \| our industrial sites \| the labor force \| transportation \| doing business \| about seda \| home

LABOR FORCE

Availability
The 2007 U.S. Census reported that the population of the two-county Shoals area is 143,149. The Florence-Muscle Shoals MA currently has a total civilian labor force of 69,251 that supports 240 plus manufacturing and distribution operations. The March 2008 unemployment rate for the Florence-Muscle Shoals MA was 4.1 percent.

The 2007 U.S. Census reported 358,312 people in the larger Shoals labor market area with a current labor market of 167,895. The labor market for the Florence-Muscle Shoals MA extends to eight counties in three states: Colbert, Lauderdale, Franklin, Lawrence, and Limestone Counties in Alabama; Tishomingo County in Mississippi; and, Lawrence and Wayne Counties in Tennessee.

General Area Employment
Total non-agricultural employment is 57,900 with 19 percent of these individuals employed in the goods producing sector. The area has a strong manufacturing heritage. Additionally, many of our local citizens are employed in jobs that do not utilize their skills and are looking for opportunities to put their high talents to use.

Nonagricultural Employment for Florence-Muscle Shoals MA
	Total Nonagricultural Employment • Goods Producing Natural Resources, Mining & Construction Manufacturing • Service Producing Trade, Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities Information Financial Activity Professional & Business Services Education & Health Services Leisure & Hospitality Other Services • Government Federal State & Local	3,600 7,500 11,900 600 2,200 5,800 5,200 5,500 3,500 1,500 10,600	March 2008 57,900 11,100 34,700 12,100
Travel Time to Work, Florence-Muscle Shoals MA (2007)
	Total Population by Travel Time to Work: Under 15minutes 15 to 29 minutes 30 to 44 minutes 45 to 59 minutes 60 or more minutes Average Travel Time in Minutes - 25.20	61,680 20,026 24,362 9,884 3,604 3,804
Employed Persons 16 years and Over by Occupation Florence-Muscle Shoals MA (2007) iExpress provides the following information on occupations within the Florence-Muscle Shoals MA.
	Population 16+ by Occupation Management, Business, Financial Professional and Related Occupations Sales and Office Services Farming, Forestry & Fishing Construction, Extraction, and Maintenance Production, Transportation and Material Moving	63,710 9.36% 16.20% 25.77% 13.80% 0.65% 12.03% 22.19%

Percent of Industry Type to Number of Manufacturers
	Metal/Industrial Machinery Fabricating Textiles Cabinets/Millwork Paper/Printing Food Chemical Furniture/Shelving Automotive	39% 13% 12% 11% 7% 6% 6% 3% 3%

General Wage Information
The average wage for unskilled workers is $7.50 to $8.00 per hour. Semi-skilled workers average $8.75 to $11.00 per hour, while highly skilled workers average $12.00 to $15.50 per hour. With specific job classifications, average wages will be provided.

During the 2002 Existing Industry Visitation, the majority of companies rated labor/management relations in the community as being good, and labor/management relations in their companies as very good. Absentee rates and turnover rates were low in a large majority of the companies. Productivity rates vs. industry averages were rated most often as being comparable; a majority of companies responding that their turnover rates were lower than industry averages. Absenteeism was rated comparable/low, and workers compensation claims were rated as being low in most cases.

Lockwood Greene Consulting conducted a study that reported the Shoals not only has readily available labor but also that labor cost, productivity, work ethic, and labor/management relations are all strengths of the region. The majority of local employers rated their workers as good to excellent with generally low turnover and absenteeism, high levels of worker productivity and work ethic, and good labor/management relations.

Worker's Compensation
All companies that employ five or more people within the State of Alabama are required to have workers' compensation insurance. Within the State of Alabama, financially strong companies may be self-insured. For more detailed information see the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations web site.