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Lakeshore Economic

Analysis ProjectFinal Report

May 2015

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Online Study – 341 Completes

Study Conducted: May 2015

Manitowoc County Employers

Sponsored by Leede & ICB

Methods

LEAP, the Lakeshore Economic Analysis Project is an

effort to gather current and relevant economic data

from employers in Manitowoc County.

Surveys distributed via emails through Progress

Lakeshore, The Chamber and Investors Community

Bank.

Study represents an overall error of + 5% at 95%

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Our Local Economy is Strong and

Growing!

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The study reached a good cross section of area businesses. This information will be used in the more

detailed analysis of the study as a whole.

Q3. Which of the following best describes your organization’s

primary business sector?

21%

3%

3%

6%

7%

12%

13%

13%

21%

0% 50% 100%

Other

Hotel or Tourism

Restaurant or Food Service

Government

Retail

Non-Profit Organization

Personal or Business Services

Financial or Insurance

Manufacturing

The most often mentioned

Other Responses were:

Healthcare – 11 responses

Education – 8 responses

Real Estate – 7 responses

Construction – 6 responses

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In reviewing future employment needs, we see 38% projecting increased employment with a mean of

14%. There are 6% projecting decline at a mean rate of 10%. This speaks of growth for the area but

also for the need for qualified candidates in the workforce.

Q4. In the next 12 months, do you anticipate

your employment in Manitowoc County will?

1%

5%

56%

34%

4%

0% 50% 100%

Decrease Significantly

Decrease Slightly

Remain the Same

Increase Slightly

Increase Significantly Q4a. If Increase: What percentage change

in employment would you expect to see?

Mean Score = 14%

Q4b. If Decrease: What percentage change

in employment would you expect to see?

Mean Score = 10%

Net Between

Increase &

Decrease is

32%!

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It is positive to see that sales growth is more than double the decline rate in this question. It is also

positive to see the percent of growth as a mean is stronger than the percent decline.

Q6. Looking at your current sales in the past 6

months, how has that tracked against the same 6

month period one year ago?

2%

5%

12%

29%

28%

15%

10%

0% 50% 100%

Decreased Significantly

Decreased Moderately

Decreased Slightly

Remained the Same

Increased Slightly

Increased Moderately

Increased SignificantlyQ6a. If Increase: What percentage change

in sales did you see?

Mean Score = 14%

Q6b. If Decrease: What percentage

change in sales did you see?

Mean Score = 11%

Net Between

Increase &

Decrease is

34%!

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While respondents indicate both employment and sales growth in their businesses they are not as

optimistic for the local economy overall. The overall response is slightly positive.

Q7. How do you see the economy of Manitowoc

County as a whole performing in the next 12 months?

5%

1%

4%

11%

36%

36%

7%

0% 50% 100%

DK/NA

Significant Decline

Moderate Decline

Slight Decline

Remain Flat

Slight Growth

Good Growth

Siginificant GrowthQ7a. If Increase: What percentage change

in the economy would you expect to see?

Mean Score = 8%

Q7b. If Decrease: What percentage change

in the economy would you expect to see?

Mean Score = 9%

Net Between

Growth &

Decline is

27%!

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There is a projection of modest growth in the next 12 months in the overall businesses. This is seen in

both general percentage of response and net growth figures.

Q8. How do you see your business as a whole

performing in the next 12 months?

2%

1%

1%

4%

20%

46%

21%

5%

0% 50% 100%

DK/NA

Significant Decline

Moderate Decline

Slight Decline

Remain Flat

Slight Growth

Good Growth

Siginificant GrowthQ8a. If Growth: What percentage change

in the economy would you expect to see?

Mean Score = 12%

Q8b. If Decline: What percentage change

in the economy would you expect to see?

Mean Score = 10%

Net Between

Growth &

Decline is

66%!

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This question offered respondents a series of key issues and asked that they identify their top 5. We

see that over half the businesses indicate that recruiting talent and healthcare costs were key issues.

Government regulation and the economy were also significant.

Q5. What would you consider the Top 5

issues facing your business?

Yes

Responses

Talent Recruitment/Staffing 57%

Healthcare Costs 55%

Government Regulation 43%

Economic Slowdown 43%Skilled Labor Shortage 39%

Competition 37%

Taxes 35%

Industry Slowdown 24%

Leadership Development 21%

Technology/IT 18%

Innovation 14%

Environmental Issues 9%

Security 8%

Energy Issues 6%

Globalization 6%

Other 11%

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The following is additional information gained from detailed analysis of the data:

• High level respondents in the Service and Retail industries, with largest organizations in Manufacturing

• General Employment Growth was strongest in Manufacturing but the percentage growth was Service

• Sales Growth was strongest from Financial Services and Manufacturing. This was also true for Growth of

the Manitowoc County Economy and Growth of their Business.

• Manufacturers had the strongest concerns overall for the issues tested in the study.

• Respondents from the Service Industry were less likely to live in Manitowoc in 5 years than other groups.

• Managers and Directors were more optimistic about growth than higher level respondents, though top

leadership generally showed higher sales growth

• It was positive to see that there were not significant differences by respondent level in their likelihood to live

in Manitowoc in the next 5 years.

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Employment in Manitowoc County has been variable. It peaked in 2008 before the economic

downturn and showed general decline until it bottomed out in 2013. It is now starting to turn around

with 2015 projections.

The following is the recent history of

our Manitowoc County workforce

based on figures from the Bureau of

Labor Statistics:

Year Employment

2005 33,850

2008 35,003

2013 32,401

2015 32,722

Every County bordering Manitowoc County has

a lower unemployment rate than we do

according to the Department of Workforce

Development for August 2015

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This map from the Department of Workforce Development shows the projected population change

from 2010 through 2040.

Manitowoc County faces a

fundamental challenge

moving forward.

Surrounding counties show

growth rates as high as 31%

moving forward while we

are projecting a 3% decline.

How will this impact the

future workforce?

What will happen as our

employees retire?

A strategic plan and effort is needed to address

our current and future workforce needs moving

forward

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The following are other items of

interest from the profile:

• 2000 to 2010 – 2.6% pop growth

• 2010 to 2013 - 0.1% pop decline

• Median Age - 44 years

• Net Migration - (-0.2%)

• 3,706 Manitowoc residents drive to

Sheboygan to Work. 5,046 others

• 1,365 Sheboygan residents drive to

Manitowoc to Work. 2,660 come

from other counties.

• We have a net outward migration

both in counts and in $$

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The following are Open

Positions in the past 90 days:

• Manitowoc 1,279

• Sheboygan 2,386

• Calumet 245

• Kewaunee 259

• Door 101

Source – Labor Insight Jobs (Burning Glass

Technologies)

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Three Simple Questions:

1. Do you have unfilled positions in

your business?

2. If Yes: How many?

3. What industry segment are you a

part of?

In September Leede Research, in

cooperation with our partner

organization completed an emergency

assessment of the labor market in

Manitowoc County. This was conducted

through online interviews with members

and contacts of the following:

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Sent out through online resources of the Chamber and

Progress Lakeshore a total of 223 employers provided

input. Data was reviewed for quality by Leede Research

and some surveys were recoded for accuracy.

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The following are summary

items of interest from the survey:

• The total represents 815 unfilled

positions in Manitowoc County from

just those respondents

• Simple extrapolation into the

employer population indicates there

are over 1500 positions unfilled

• Indeed.com indicates 1,751 positions

available in Manitowoc County.

• Recent communications in the

Sheboygan Press indicates 2,600

positions available in Sheboygan

58% of Employers

Responding have

Unfilled Positions

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Manufacturing shows the highest rate of unfilled

positions. Retail shows the lowest

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Finding the Right Candidates and Work Ethics are

seen as the biggest barriers to filling needed

positions

3%

1%

4%

4%

5%

7%

8%

8%

20%

40%

0% 30% 60%

Miscellaneous

Competiting companies

Part time work offered

Low wages/wages offered

Shift work/holidays or weekends

Skill sets

Finding applicants

Lack of qualified applicants

Finding candidates with work ethic/want to work

Finding qualified candidates

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An open-ended question was used to capture best features of living in the area. Lake Michigan was a

dominant response along with the general environment offered in the area.

Q1. What do you think is the best feature of living in

Manitowoc County?

The most often mentioned Open Responses were:

Lake Michigan - 92 responses

Small town atmosphere/community - 53 responses

Safe - 34 responses

Friendly/Good people - 34 responses

High quality of life - 18 responses

Amenities, parks, zoo, museum, festivals - 14 responses

Low Cost of Living - 12 responses

Good place to raise family - 11 responses

Family & Friends Here - 10 responses

Qualified workforce - 8 responses

Beauty - 8 responses

Location - 7 responses

Quality schools/education - 5 responses

Clean - 4 responses

Access to I-43 - 4 responses

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Business growth and labor needs are the prime concern from area employers. There was a wide

range of responses seen to this open-ended questions.

Q2. As an employer, what one thing about Manitowoc

County would you change?

The most often mentioned Open Responses were:Attract more business/jobs/employers - 55 responses

More skilled labor/training - 45 responses

More restaurants/amenities - 19 responses

Downtown issues - 19 responses

Retain youth - 19 responses

Nothing - 18 responses

Conservative attitude - 16 responses

Negative attitudes/Be more positive - 13 responses

City Leaders/government issues - 12 responses

Better education system - 7 responses

Lower taxes - 7 responses

Wage level - 7 responses

More development/Growth - 6 responses

More shopping - 3 responses

Develop lakefront/river - 5 responses

Better economy - 2 responses

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The study sought to identify what items of support could be provided to business through area

organizations. We see while no specifics were offered, they seek to have organizations promote

growth in the area as a whole.

Q9. What could organizations in the community

such as Progress Lakeshore (formerly the Economic

Development Corporation) and the Chamber do to

help your business or address area business issues?

The most often mentioned Open Responses were:

Nothing - 50 responses

Attract more business/jobs/employers - 39 responses

Promote/Advertise – 33 responses

Continue programs/discussions - 18 responses

More skilled labor/training - 16 responses

Retain youth - 12 responses

Shop Local Theme - 7 responses

More development/Growth - 4 responses

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Respondents are not seeing specifics that other businesses could offer but do see the value on

general growth and for programs and discussions. There is some need for loan resources indicated in

the results.

Q10. What could other businesses in the

community such as banks, accounting firms,

consultants or even local government do to help

your business or address area business issues?

The most often mentioned Open Responses were:

Nothing - 70 responses

Attract more business/jobs/employers - 13 responses

Loans - 13 responses

Promote/advertise - 11 responses

Continue programs/discussions - 8 responses

Funding - 7 responses

Shop Local Theme - 6 responses

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Respondents must have been Manitowoc County businesses. There was a strong mix of employer size

and titles represented in the study. This offers a solid look at the current economic environment in the

area.

S1. Is your business located in Manitowoc County?

Respondents must have a business within the county

to complete the study

S3. What is your title in your organization:

15%

2%

7%

15%

15%

46%

0% 50% 100%

Other

C-Level

Vice President

Manager

Director

Owner/President/CEO

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This slide shares the detail on employer size. The study reached a strong cross-section of the

community with various size employers. This adds credibility to the study findings.

S4. How many FTE’s (Full Time Equivalents) do you

employ in Manitowoc County?

22%

18%

19%

9%

14%

18%

0% 50% 100%

100+

31 to 100

11 to 30

6 to 10

2 to 5

1

Mean Score = 92

employees

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Demographics give us a look at the makeup of the leadership in the local business community. We

see the respondents are older with a mix of education levels.

Q11. What is your age?

7%

31%

36%

17%

8%

1%

0% 30% 60%

65+

55-64

45-54

35-44

25-34

Under 25

Q13. Which of the following best

describes your education level?

1%

26%

11%

30%

7%

18%

7%

0% 50% 100%

Ref/DK/NA

Post Graduate Degree

Post Grad Courses

Bachelor Degree

Technical College Degree

Some College or Tech College

High School Graduate

Some High School

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Most respondents are married and their spouses are also working in the area. Those who are not are

generally not seeking employment at this time. That could represent a potential labor pool for the

future.

Q12. Are you:

84%

16%

0% 50% 100%

Married

Single

Q12a. If Married: Is your spouse

currently employed?

Yes = 76%

No = 24%

Q12b. If No: Are they actively seeking

employment?

Yes = 3%

No = 97%

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Respondents have been in Manitowoc County a long time. We see that 88% of the respondents

reside in the County. It is positive to see that respondents generally plan to be here in 5 years. There

are 10% who indicate a below average response.

Q14. How long have you lived in

Manitowoc County?

Mean Score = 31.5 years

Q15. On a scale from 1 to 7, with 1 being Not

at All Likely, to 7 being Extremely Likely, how

likely is it that you will reside in Manitowoc

County in 5 years?

3%

3%

4%

9%

9%

17%

56%

0% 50% 100%

1-Not at All Likely

2

3

4

5

6

7-Extremely Likely

Mean Score = 5.9

Top Two Box Score = 73%

Q15aa. Do you currently reside in

Manitowoc County?

Yes Responses = 88%

No Responses = 12%

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Respondents are involved in the community with most being part of multiple organizations. This will

be used in providing detailed information to the organizations to help in their future programming.

51%

50%

8%

27%

71%

0% 50% 100%

Other ServiceOrganization

Other BusinessOrganization

WMC

Progress Lakeshore

Chamber

Q15a. Please check any of the following organizations

that you are a part of. – Yes Responses

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Q16. Do you have any additional comments you

would like to pass along?

The respondents mentioned many comments that

could not be categorized and should be reviewed

for their content. These may be found in the Open

Responses section of the report.

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We Appreciate the Continued Partnership