Missoula County Business Survey - Workforce Needs

Thank you for participating in this survey about workforce needs in Missoula County.

Your response is vital to guiding our workforce development programs and will be used to better align workforce development programs to address your needs.

This survey takes about 8 minutes to complete. All data collected will be kept confidential with responses reported only in aggregate.

Thank you for your time!

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* 1. Which category below BEST describes your organization's industry classification?

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* 2. What is the approximate number of employees (Missoula County only) currently in your organization?

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* 3. During 2020, where were this business’s customers or clients located? Round to the nearest whole percent. Your best estimate is fine. If none, report “0.”

In Missoula County

In Montana outside Missoula County

Outside of Montana, but in U.S.

Outside of the U.S.

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* 4. How would you describe this business's current operating capacity relative to its operating capacity prior to the Coronavirus pandemic?
Note: Operating capacity is the maximum amount of activity this business could conduct under realistic operating conditions.

Operating capacity has increased 50% or more

Operating capacity has increased less than 50%

No change in operating capacity

Operating capacity has decreased less than 50%

Operating capacity has decreased 50% or more

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* 5. In the next 6 months, do you think this business will need to do any of the following? [Select all that apply.]

Obtain financial assistance or additional capital

Identify new supply chain options

Develop online sales or websites

Increase marketing or sales

Learn how to better provide for the safety of customers and employees

Identify and hire new employees

Reduce staff

Make a capital expenditure

Cancel or postpone a planned capital expenditure

Permanently close this business

Expand in current location, open a new location, or move to a new location in Missoula County.

None of the above

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* 6. What are your organization's plans with respect to hiring full-time, part-time (< 30 hours), and seasonal employees in Missoula County over the next 12 months?

	Increase	Stay the same	Decrease
Full-time employees	Full-time employees Increase	Full-time employees Stay the same	Full-time employees Decrease
Part-time employees	Part-time employees Increase	Part-time employees Stay the same	Part-time employees Decrease
Seasonal employees	Seasonal employees Increase	Seasonal employees Stay the same	Seasonal employees Decrease

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* 7. Over the past 12 months, has your organization had difficulty hiring qualified applicants in Missoula County?

Yes

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* 8. Does your organization make a special effort to recruit and hire individuals looking for employment from any of the following five groups?

	Yes	No	Considering
Military veterans	Military veterans Yes	Military veterans No	Military veterans Considering
Stay-at-home parents	Stay-at-home parents Yes	Stay-at-home parents No	Stay-at-home parents Considering
Individuals with disabilities	Individuals with disabilities Yes	Individuals with disabilities No	Individuals with disabilities Considering
Formerly incarcerated persons	Formerly incarcerated persons Yes	Formerly incarcerated persons No	Formerly incarcerated persons Considering
People recently laid-off	People recently laid-off Yes	People recently laid-off No	People recently laid-off Considering

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* 9. What are the TOP THREE resources used by your organization when hiring new employees? (Select up to 3 responses only)

Job Search Engines (Beyond.com, CareerBuilder, Indeed, LinkedIn, Monster, etc.)

Social Media — Facebook, Twitter, etc.

Staffing Agency

College / University Career Offices

Hiring / Recruitment Fairs

Internal Referrals

Company Website

Newspapers / Publications / Broadcast Media

Word of Mouth

Other (please specify)

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* 10. How would you rate the "overall workforce readiness" of the job applicants your organization has interviewed in the past 12 months?

Well Above Average

Above Average

Average

Below Average

Well Below Average

Not Applicable / Don't Know

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* 11. What specific skills are you looking for that are lacking in job applicants? (Check all that apply)

Analytic skills (e.g., critical thinking, creative thinking, problem solving)

Interpersonal skills (e.g., communication, teamwork, positive attitude)

Knowledge skills (e.g., literacy, numeracy, industry specific)

Motivational skills (e.g., desire to learn, attention to detail, work ethic)

Organizational skills (e.g., time management, punctuality)

Basic digital / computer skills (e.g., InDesign, Photoshop, Word, PowerPoint, Excel)

IT / Technical skills (e.g., programming, technical support)

Mechanical skills (e.g., working with machinery)

Physical skills (e.g., lifting, moving)

Other (please specify)

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* 12. What resources does your organization use to meet training needs? (Check all that apply)

Internal training paid by your organization

Outside consultants

Internet resources or online workshops not affiliated with local organizations

Regional seminars / workshops / conferences

National seminars / workshops / conferences

Local community colleges or vocational / technical schools (including customized training)

Local four-year colleges and universities

Apprenticeship programs

Industry recognized credentials / certificates

Training is not required

Other (please specify)

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* 13. How much concern, if any, does your organization have with each of the following workforce issues?

	A lot	Some	None	Don't know
Personal hygiene / appearance (tattoos, piercings)	Personal hygiene / appearance (tattoos, piercings) A lot	Personal hygiene / appearance (tattoos, piercings) Some	Personal hygiene / appearance (tattoos, piercings) None	Personal hygiene / appearance (tattoos, piercings) Don't know
Cost of labor	Cost of labor A lot	Cost of labor Some	Cost of labor None	Cost of labor Don't know
Cost of housing	Cost of housing A lot	Cost of housing Some	Cost of housing None	Cost of housing Don't know
Work ethic / work habits	Work ethic / work habits A lot	Work ethic / work habits Some	Work ethic / work habits None	Work ethic / work habits Don't know
Employee training	Employee training A lot	Employee training Some	Employee training None	Employee training Don't know
Regulatory costs of doing business	Regulatory costs of doing business A lot	Regulatory costs of doing business Some	Regulatory costs of doing business None	Regulatory costs of doing business Don't know
Substance abuse (e.g., opioids, alcohol, etc)	Substance abuse (e.g., opioids, alcohol, etc) A lot	Substance abuse (e.g., opioids, alcohol, etc) Some	Substance abuse (e.g., opioids, alcohol, etc) None	Substance abuse (e.g., opioids, alcohol, etc) Don't know
Employee retention	Employee retention A lot	Employee retention Some	Employee retention None	Employee retention Don't know
Lack of diverse candidates in the area	Lack of diverse candidates in the area A lot	Lack of diverse candidates in the area Some	Lack of diverse candidates in the area None	Lack of diverse candidates in the area Don't know
Lack of qualified applicants in the area	Lack of qualified applicants in the area A lot	Lack of qualified applicants in the area Some	Lack of qualified applicants in the area None	Lack of qualified applicants in the area Don't know
Mental health	Mental health A lot	Mental health Some	Mental health None	Mental health Don't know
Cost of health insurance	Cost of health insurance A lot	Cost of health insurance Some	Cost of health insurance None	Cost of health insurance Don't know
Employee transportation to / from work	Employee transportation to / from work A lot	Employee transportation to / from work Some	Employee transportation to / from work None	Employee transportation to / from work Don't know
Aging workforce	Aging workforce A lot	Aging workforce Some	Aging workforce None	Aging workforce Don't know
Child care for employees	Child care for employees A lot	Child care for employees Some	Child care for employees None	Child care for employees Don't know
Automation / robotics / emerging technologies	Automation / robotics / emerging technologies A lot	Automation / robotics / emerging technologies Some	Automation / robotics / emerging technologies None	Automation / robotics / emerging technologies Don't know
Reluctance to live / relocate to Missoula	Reluctance to live / relocate to Missoula A lot	Reluctance to live / relocate to Missoula Some	Reluctance to live / relocate to Missoula None	Reluctance to live / relocate to Missoula Don't know

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* 14. How does your organization try to retain its employees? (Check all that apply)

Increased pay / bonuses

Additional medical benefits

Tuition reimbursement

Training

Flexible work schedules

Child care subsidies

Telecommuting (work from home)

Employee wellness programs

Employee recognition and rewards programs

Career growth opportunities

Provide time / opportunity for community involvement

Other (please specify)

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* 15. How much difficulty, if any, has your organization experienced in finding qualified applicants at the following educational levels or credentials?

	No Difficulty	Some Difficulty	Considerable Difficulty	Not applicable
High School or Equivalent	High School or Equivalent No Difficulty	High School or Equivalent Some Difficulty	High School or Equivalent Considerable Difficulty	High School or Equivalent Not applicable
Some College	Some College No Difficulty	Some College Some Difficulty	Some College Considerable Difficulty	Some College Not applicable
Associate's Degree	Associate's Degree No Difficulty	Associate's Degree Some Difficulty	Associate's Degree Considerable Difficulty	Associate's Degree Not applicable
Bachelor's Degree	Bachelor's Degree No Difficulty	Bachelor's Degree Some Difficulty	Bachelor's Degree Considerable Difficulty	Bachelor's Degree Not applicable
Advanced Degree	Advanced Degree No Difficulty	Advanced Degree Some Difficulty	Advanced Degree Considerable Difficulty	Advanced Degree Not applicable
Industry-Recognized Credentials	Industry-Recognized Credentials No Difficulty	Industry-Recognized Credentials Some Difficulty	Industry-Recognized Credentials Considerable Difficulty	Industry-Recognized Credentials Not applicable

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* 16. Using a letter grade, how would you evaluate the overall level of preparation of recent graduates from area educational institutions to perform the jobs for which they were hired?

	A	B	C	D/F	Not Applicable
High School	High School A	High School B	High School C	High School D/F	High School Not Applicable
Community College	Community College A	Community College B	Community College C	Community College D/F	Community College Not Applicable
Technical School	Technical School A	Technical School B	Technical School C	Technical School D/F	Technical School Not Applicable
Four-Year College / University	Four-Year College / University A	Four-Year College / University B	Four-Year College / University C	Four-Year College / University D/F	Four-Year College / University Not Applicable
Area Educational Institutions Overall	Area Educational Institutions Overall A	Area Educational Institutions Overall B	Area Educational Institutions Overall C	Area Educational Institutions Overall D/F	Area Educational Institutions Overall Not Applicable

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* 17. Are you currently partnering with any area high school, community/technical college, or four-year university/college to help students acquire the skills necessary to succeed in your industry or organization by doing any of the following? (Check all that apply)

Helping design curriculum

Developing training programs

Sponsoring an apprenticeship program

Not partnering with area educational institutions

Other (please specify)

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* 18. As a result of COVID-19, has your organization offered at least some employees the option of working remotely?

Yes

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* 19. What do you foresee as your organization's primary workforce concerns post-COVID-19? (Check all that apply)

Returning to pre-COVID staff levels

Increased cost of labor

Developing and implementing workplace cleanliness, distancing, and health safety measures that ease the concerns of returning employees

Employees working from home being unwilling or reluctant to return to the workplace due to the loss of workplace flexibility and subsequent decline in work-life balance

Increased competition for employees seeking organizations that offer a range of workplace flexibility options

Developing remote work option policies that ensure employee productivity and accountability without direct supervision

Other (please specify)

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* 20. Would you (or someone from your organization) be willing to participate in a follow-up focus group in the next few weeks?

Yes

Missoula County Business Survey - Workforce Needs

Question Title

* 1. Which category below BEST describes your organization's industry classification?

Question Title

* 2. What is the approximate number of employees (Missoula County only) currently in your organization?

Question Title

* 3. During 2020, where were this business’s customers or clients located? Round to the nearest whole percent. Your best estimate is fine. If none, report “0.”

Question Title

* 4. How would you describe this business's current operating capacity relative to its operating capacity prior to the Coronavirus pandemic? Note: Operating capacity is the maximum amount of activity this business could conduct under realistic operating conditions.

Question Title

* 5. In the next 6 months, do you think this business will need to do any of the following? [Select all that apply.]

Question Title

* 6. What are your organization's plans with respect to hiring full-time, part-time (< 30 hours), and seasonal employees in Missoula County over the next 12 months?

Question Title

* 7. Over the past 12 months, has your organization had difficulty hiring qualified applicants in Missoula County?

Question Title

* 8. Does your organization make a special effort to recruit and hire individuals looking for employment from any of the following five groups?

Question Title

* 9. What are the TOP THREE resources used by your organization when hiring new employees? (Select up to 3 responses only)

Question Title

* 10. How would you rate the "overall workforce readiness" of the job applicants your organization has interviewed in the past 12 months?

Question Title

* 11. What specific skills are you looking for that are lacking in job applicants? (Check all that apply)

Question Title

* 12. What resources does your organization use to meet training needs? (Check all that apply)

Question Title

* 13. How much concern, if any, does your organization have with each of the following workforce issues?

Question Title

* 14. How does your organization try to retain its employees? (Check all that apply)

Question Title

* 15. How much difficulty, if any, has your organization experienced in finding qualified applicants at the following educational levels or credentials?

Question Title

* 16. Using a letter grade, how would you evaluate the overall level of preparation of recent graduates from area educational institutions to perform the jobs for which they were hired?

Question Title

* 17. Are you currently partnering with any area high school, community/technical college, or four-year university/college to help students acquire the skills necessary to succeed in your industry or organization by doing any of the following? (Check all that apply)

Question Title

* 18. As a result of COVID-19, has your organization offered at least some employees the option of working remotely?

Question Title

* 19. What do you foresee as your organization's primary workforce concerns post-COVID-19? (Check all that apply)

Question Title

* 20. Would you (or someone from your organization) be willing to participate in a follow-up focus group in the next few weeks?

* 4. How would you describe this business's current operating capacity relative to its operating capacity prior to the Coronavirus pandemic?
Note: Operating capacity is the maximum amount of activity this business could conduct under realistic operating conditions.