To obtain data on the number of central city Milwaukee residents interested in working, a random sample of 500 households with working age adults were interviewed regarding the number and background of residents interested in finding work. The survey was designed and analyzed by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Employment and Training Institute and conducted by the Social Science Research Facility from November 2 through November 22, 1995. Nine zipcode areas in the Community Development Block Grant/Enterprise Community neighborhoods of central city Milwaukee were surveyed by phone, with interviews conducted in English and Spanish. The margin of error for a sample of this size is plus or minus 4.5 percent, at a 95 percent confidence level.

• The survey found an unemployment rate in the Milwaukee CDBG/Enterprise Community neighborhoods of 21.5 percent for November 1995 when all persons interested in employment are included. State unemployment statistics for the Milwaukee area fail to recognize this vast pool of out-of-work adults in central city neighborhoods who are interested in employment and are willing to work for wages available in the current labor market. The November unemployment rate reported by the state was 3.0 percent for the Milwaukee metropolitan area and 4.8 percent for the City of Milwaukee.
• Contrary to the oft-repeated assertion that central city Milwaukee neighborhoods are comprised primarily of households with no workers, 81 percent of central city working age households had at least one employed worker and 95 percent included persons currently employed or interested in finding work. The vast majority of central city households with no one looking for work already had at least one employed household member. Only 5 percent of working age households reported no one presently employed and no one interested in finding employment.

Graph 1: Employment Status of Central City Households

• Many households depend upon several workers to earn enough to support their families. Only 55 percent of households with one worker reported that their wages were adequate to support the household, compared to 72 percent of households with two workers, 83 percent of households with three workers, and 90 percent of households with four or more workers.
• Almost half (47 percent) of all central city households with working age adults had at least one person looking for a new or different job.
• Most job seekers were looking for full-time employment. Seventy percent wanted 35 or more hours of work a week, 20 percent were looking for 20-34 hours, and 10 percent were looking for less than 20 hours work a week.
• Households were asked how much money job seekers needed to earn in the job sought. A fourth of job seekers were willing to work for less than $6.00 an hour and half were willing to work for less than $7.00 a hour. A third of job seekers wanted at least $7.00-9.99 an hour, and 15 percent said they needed at least $10.00 an hour.
• Lack of private transportation presents a serious barrier to employment for central city residents interested in jobs located in Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington counties or areas of Milwaukee County not easily reached by public transportation. Only a third (33.8 percent) of unemployed job seekers had access to a car and also possessed a valid driver's license, although another 17.9 percent had a car but not a valid license.

Graph 2: Job Seekers Who are Currently Employed: Access to Car and Driver's License

Graph 3: Unemployed Job Seekers: Access to Car and Driver's License

• Nearly 60 percent of job seekers identified by the survey were currently unemployed. Unemployed men were far more likely to have recent work experience than unemployed women, but their previous work reflected the volatility of the casual labor market. Men out of work for one or two months reported prior jobs as assemblers, laborers, machine operators, packers and warehouse workers. Recently employed women were likely to have worked as cleaners, factory workers, health and nursing aides, or housekeepers. The majority of unemployed women ages 25-44 years have been out of work for more than six months, and a third have been unemployed for more than a year. These workers face a difficult challenge convincing employers to hire them for jobs available.
• The majority of central city job seekers indicated that they needed assistance in finding a job. Most often they requested help in job placement, information about job openings, and assistance matching their skills to available jobs. Residents also suggested an interest in job fairs, help in developing resumes, personal contacts with employers, help in locating job sites and assistance handling the job application process.