Wage Rates
- The federal minimum wage was raised from $4.25 to $4.75 an hour in October 1996,
and to $5.15 in September 1997. The majority of Milwaukee area employers were paying at
or above $5.15 for entry level work before the federal wage changes. Wages for remaining
entry-level positions have continued to climb in response to the tight labor market. In May
2000, less than 1 percent of full-time openings and 2 percent of part-time openings paid
minimum wage ($5.15 an hour). The average wage for entry-level jobs with no experience or
training requirements was $7.75 for full-time openings and $6.65 for part-time work.
- In May 2000, 83 percent of full-time openings could support two persons above the
poverty level, and 77 percent offered wages sufficient to support three persons above poverty
and offered health insurance. However, only 50 percent of full-time job openings with no
education or experience requirements offered health insurance and family-supporting wages for
three-person families.
- The majority (84 percent) of full-time job openings offered health insurance benefits. By contrast, only 32 percent of part-time openings had health insurance coverage.
Labor Market Supply and Demand
- Labor shortages were evident in Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington counties where
very low unemployment levels (1.9 to 2.3 percent) showed 7,485 unemployed adults compared
to 10,963 full-time and 4,896 part-time job openings. In Milwaukee County the
total number of jobs available (10,963 full-time and 8,684 part-time openings) fell
short of the number of officially counted unemployed job seekers (22,325 workers).
- In the central city neighborhoods, job openings (1,707 full-time and 739 part-time) fell far short of the estimated 11,400 unemployed persons considered actively seeking work in May 2000 and 3,770 cases receiving "W-2" welfare payments.
Education and Training Requirements
- The high demand for trained workers continues. Seventy-two percent of full-time openings required education, training or occupation-specific experience beyond high school. The survey showed an estimated 13,242 full-time jobs for experienced or technically trained workers, with 57 percent of these jobs identified as difficult to fill. Employers reported that 40 percent of the 3,042 jobs for persons with four-year college degrees (or more) were difficult to fill.
- Twenty-one percent of full-time openings and 41 percent of
part-time openings were entry
level jobs with no education or experience requirements. Another 7 percent of full-time
openings and 6 percent of part-time openings required high school completion but no experience
or training.
- Most entry level full-time and part-time job openings were located in the outlying
counties and the Milwaukee County suburbs. In May 2000, 79 percent of full-time openings for
food preparation and food service workers were located in suburban/exurban areas outside the
City of Milwaukee. Similarly, nearly all (94-96 percent) of full-time openings for laborers and
stock handlers, helpers and cleaners were in the suburbs/exurbs.
- Many better
paying jobs requiring technical training or occupation-specific experience were located at
suburban/exurban worksites. Nearly all (91 percent) of the 876
full-time openings for precision
production occupations and 98 percent of the 1,368 openings for machine operators were located
at worksites outside the City of Milwaukee.
- An estimated 461 full-time and 442
part-time jobs required possession of a valid driver's or chauffeur's license. These included
work for truck drivers (delivery, concrete, long-haul), driver-sales workers, bus drivers,
groundskeepers and some construction workers.
- The tables below identify jobs in highest demand by level of education or training required. Frequently listed full-time job openings were reported in health fields, sales work, food preparation and service, manufacturing and office work. Part-time jobs in high demand were reported in health fields, sales work, food preparation and service, and personal service work.
