Summary of Specifications:
The purpose of this request for proposal is to obtain a labor market assessment for Washtenaw County/Ann Arbor, Michigan. The labor market assessment will be utilized for at least three purposes:
1. Economic Development A quality labor market assessment is essential in today’s competitive economic development environment. High-growth technology firms consider the availability of talent as a critical location factor when weighing various communities.
2. Workforce Development The local workforce development agency, Washtenaw County ETCS, will use the labor force assessment to guide the development of training programs under the federal Workforce Investment Act, thus ensuring that unemployed workers will be retrained for in-demand jobs.
3. Education Local colleges and universities will utilize the labor force data as they plan and prepare continuing education curriculum.
The availability of talent is critical to the success of Ann Arbor area firms, particularly those utilizing today’s cutting edge technologies. A thorough analysis and understanding of the area’s labor force will solve the variable that balances the economic development and workforce development equation. By fusing the expertise of the employer side of the equation—Ann Arbor SPARK—with the talent side of the equation—Michigan Works!/ETCS and Washtenaw Community College—we help ensure that job creation (labor demand) more closely matches employee skills (talent supply).
Each year, Ann Arbor SPARK updates its industry clusters analysis, an in-depth study of industry sectors in the Ann Arbor MSA. It identifies fast growing, declining, and emerging industries in the Ann Arbor area. Metrics include company growth rate, wages, and growth or decline or wages. If we combine the clusters analyses with a labor market assessment, we have the tools to design a comprehensive plan that includes the components of economic development, workforce development, workforce training, and talent recruitment. If successful, Washtenaw County will become one of the few communities that have successfully addressed talent needs for both the employer and the job seeker.
