The Paducah area (70-mile radius of Paducah, KY), referred to in this report as the “labor shed”, has a household population of approximately 850,600 and a civilian labor force of approximately 433,800.
The labor shed has a pool of approximately 28,400 unemployed persons who are actively seeking work.
A new employer will be able to attract employees from an additional pool of about 60,800 workers. These individuals are currently employed and have indicated an interest in changing jobs.
These potentially available workers are referred to in this report as the “underemployed” because they appear to possess the skills, experience, and education to qualify them for the pay rates at which they would take a new job.
The desired pay rates of these underemployed workers are reasonable when compared to their existing pay rates. The median current pay rate of the underemployed workers is $15.49 per hour, and the median desired pay rate of the underemployed workers is $17.05 per hour.
About 25% of the underemployed workers would take a new job for $12.80 per hour or less. At the upper end, the 25% most qualified and experienced will command more than $20.91 per hour.
Roughly 4,100 people, neither employed nor seeking work, might re-enter the workforce for the proper job.
In total, the Paducah area (70-mile radius of Paducah, KY) has approximately 93,300 available workers for new or expanding businesses.
Source: Prepared for the Greater Paducah Economic Development Council by The Pathfinders of Dallas, Texas in June 2008
