FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 18, 2005
For more information contact:

Dept. Workforce Services: 307.777.8725
Rachel Girt, Wyoming Business Council: 307.777.2851

MEDIA ADVISORY:
Workforce surveys to be taken in 22 cities

CHEYENNE – Residents in 22 cities across Wyoming are being sought out for valuable information on their employment.

A workforce survey will be held at local stores in Riverton, Casper, Douglas, Wheatland, Rawlins, Lander, Buffalo, Torrington, Rock Springs, Green River, Thermopolis, Sheridan, Laramie, Evanston, Worland, Newcastle, Cheyenne, Afton, Cody, Gillette, Cheyenne and Jackson.

The surveys are part of a study funded by the Wyoming Workforce Development Council to assess the needs of Wyoming’s workforce. This study is a combined effort between the Wyoming Workforce Development Council, Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, Wyoming Economic Development Association and Wyoming Business Council. The goal of the survey is to create more job opportunities for state residents.

Survey teams will conduct brief in-person interviews with area residents. The responses from the interviews will be kept confidential.

“We need the help of individuals in the community to succeed,” said Charlie Ware, chair of the Wyoming Workforce Development Council. “Individual response to our survey is a very important part of this process.”

The survey will target key workforce information, including:

• Labor requirements of area employers
• Skills and characteristics of the labor force
• Any untapped workforce segments
• The extent of underemployment in the workforce
• Types of employee training needed to keep local businesses competitive

“Workforce skills and availability are critical factors for businesses selecting a location for a new or expanding facility,” Ware said. “To create quality job opportunities, and to meet the needs of industry, communities must understand and address the workforce issues.”

The information gathered will be used in determining training programs, economic development programs, and for industrial recruitment. The survey is being conducted by the Wadley-Donovan Group, LTD of Edison, NJ in conjunction with the market research firm, Younger Associates of Jackson, TN.

The survey teams will be at the following locations over the next week (Specific locations of Thermopolis, Afton and Cody will be released soon):

January 19

• Riverton – Kmart and the Pit Stop
• Casper – Safeway at E. 2nd St. and Wyoming Blvd.
• Wheatland - Safeway and Pamida
• Rawlins - City Market Food and Pharmacy

January 20

• Lander – Safeway and the Bread Board
• Buffalo - DJ's Thriftway and IGA Rocky Mountain Fresh Food Center
• Torrington - Torrington Travel Terminal and Main Street Market
• Rock Springs – White Mountain Mall
• Green River - Smiths Food and Drug Center

January 21

• Sheridan - Warehouse Market and Kmart
• Laramie – Safeway and Albertsons
• Evanston - Wal-Mart Supercenter

January 22

• Worland - John's IGA Foodliner and Blair's Super Market
• Newcastle - Decker's Food Center and Woody's Food Center
• Cheyenne - Frontier Mall and Safeway on South Greeley Highway

January 23

• Gillette - Albertsons and Kmart
• Cheyenne - Frontier Mall and Safeway on South Greeley Highway
• Jackson – Albertsons

The mission of the Wyoming Business Council is to facilitate the economic growth of Wyoming. For more information, please visit the Web site at www.wyomingbusiness.org.

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