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Show -NEWS- Spanish Fork A8 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2006 Covering what matters most Steve Hardman / Spanish Fork News HELP WANTED: Gandolfo's and Alcoa are looking for workers — and they're not alone. Signs of the Times: From SIGNS • A l have a career here. But finding good quality help is difficult." Davis admitted that many younger potential workers haven't learned the value of work. "It's a reflection of the world we live in," he said. "The opportunity for young people to learn to work isn't like it was when we were kids." Economic indicators also factor into the equation. Drady Lynn, Branch Manager at SOS Staffing Services, said that an understanding of the unemployment rate helps to explain the deficit in available workers. According to Lynn, Utah as a whole is at 3.4 percent unemployment. The State and Department of Workforce Services (DWS) consider full employment at 3.8 percent. That means there are fewer employees to work, or in other words, the pool to draw from is smaller. That shrinking work force combined with an increasing job market creates the imbalance. Lynn said that Utah County is "even worse" than the state average, at 3.1 percent. "People can be selective now," he said. "'Do you have anything else?' is what they all ask. A while ago, I could tell them of an opening and they would take it. Now they ask, 'Do you have anything else?' because they can. They can choose between jobs, and those jobs with less glamour and more labor are harder to fill." That is the reason, according to Lynn, that Alcoa and other heavy industrial businesses are having such a hard time staffing. "Construction is booming and it pays well," he said. From August of 2005 until August of 2006, 13,000 new construction jobs were created in Utah. "Companies with labor-intensive jobs are struggling to fill them because construction has sucked them up. They offer good wages and lots of work. Often those who won't work hard are left," said Lynn. That attitude of "not wanting to get their hands dirty" has become problematic for production and construction companies. Even in the service sector, with "mom and pop" companies, staffing is a problem. Tony Hassan, owner of Gandolfo's said it's hard to keep employees because so many people are hiring right now. Day positions are especially hard to fill because people who need day-time employment "are looking to make a little bit more money." Hassan said he is looking for "someone that is willing to stick around for a while." His demands are not high. "I want someone with some food experience. Age doesn't really matter — what I really want is friendly, nice people with good communication skills." The time of pensions and gold watches are fading fast. And with it, worker loyalty is shifting. THECA!S O S 05 Bulck LeSabre 05 Hyundai Sonata GLS WHEELS - P SEATS - LOADED - 27K MILES 6 CYL • SUNROOF - WHEELS - 24K MILES $13,995 $12,995 04 Cadillac Deville LEATHER • LOADED - 33K MILES $18495 06 Chevy 1500LS 04 CMC Yukon SIT CREW • WHEELS - NICE - 21K MILES LEATHER -7 PASS- SUNROOF -58K MILES $25495 '04 Chevy Trailblazer LT PSEAT WHEELS-21KMILES 99 Ford Wlndstar LX WHEELS - 7 PASS - 99K MILES $15,895 $4,995 872 N. Main Spanish fork 794- 0077 "Companies are taking workers from other companies by offering something they're not receiving currently — say a signing bonus or increase in their hourly pay," Lynn said. "People go from job to job for a quarter more an hour. There is little loyalty in general." According to Godby, this is the trend for the future. "The baby boomer generation with its size and focus on industry is leaving the workforce. The smaller, upcoming generation relies on education and service-oriented jobs." That means labor-intensive positions will be difficult to fill. The challenges of keeping their companies staffed has forced employers to go to new lengths. Alcoa has recognized the problem, and is making strides to deal with it. Raising the starting wage, a sign-on bonus, incentive gifts for length of service and referral bonuses are all part of Alcoa's efforts to attract new employees. In the meantime, to cover the staffing gap, office personnel and administrators who have been trained in production procedures are filling in. "Employers have to make their position attractive to entice potential employees," said Lynn. "They have got to get creative." At SOS, no starting level job offers less than $8 per hour, an increase of $1 from last year. SOS also tries to come up with creative solutions to help their clients fill their needs, such as later swing shifts, job-sharing for students and part-time work. To entice employees outside of the Valley, Alcoa is looking at carpooling and commuting solutions. But will it be enough? To remain competitive, the companies must pin-point ways to solve their own particular employment shortage. From generational attitudes to greater choices, employees will continue to be selective so long as the job market allows them that privilege. . Save the Dragon: From DRAGON • A l that land go into homes," she said. The dragon has been known to dress up for Halloween, put on Christmas decor, or other holiday attire. "We look forward to seeing what it's going to look like next," Jarlene said. A couple who lives in Woodland Hills, Bert and Barbara Wanlass dress the dragon. Barbara Wanlass told the story of how the dragon came to be. "Nineteen years ago we were passing this piece of farm equipment with the grandkids, and we thought that would just be a lot of fun to paint it up to look like a dragon, so we stopped one day when there was a man in the field and asked him if we could, and he said yes." The Wanlasses went in the evening, parked their car and started painting the dragon, and a policeman came. "We told the policeman, 'No don't worry, we have permission,' and he said, 'Lady, don't worry, I just want you to move your car so it won't get hit.'" And so the dragon was born, and named by the Wanlasses, Serendipity. "We try to do something each year — put a Christmas wreath on it," Barbara said. "In fact one time we put the wreath out about November, and it disappeared, so we put on another wreath, and it disappeared too. Then someone looked on their geocache thing and said [the dragon] was on there [as a geocaching site]. They would give the location of something and you had to find it, and take something and leave something; so that's where all our Christmas wreaths were going." "So many things are Barbara said that a lot of changing here," Boothe said. people claim the dragon. "They add their two cents "When the tree went down, to it if they think it's not that's what really inspired the dragon thing. We just wanted dressed enough." Barbara said while she to let them know how we feel and Bert were on their about it." mission, Carl and Sylvia Lee Mayor Lane Henderson took care of the dragon. One said that legally there's day Sylvia was out there nothing the city can do to dressing him up, and the protect the dragon. The' school bus drove by. Some Ottesons are free to sell the' kids leaned out the window property or not. and said, "Leave the dragon Barbara said she has a lot alone!" of people tell her if the dragon Barbara said once they ever has to be moved, they! had a "Please don't feed the want it on their property. ':_ dragon" sign up, and another The city of Salem is seeing time, an "I love America" some big changes. Various sign." developments are coming in Now Serendipity has over land that used to be open a "Save the Dragon" sign fields. • beside him, voicing the Mayor Lane Henderson general opinion of people said, "We've had a building who have grown to love him. restriction in place for the "They're developing all last seven months because of the land there. Once they a power restriction, but prior started digging around there, to that restriction, 670 homes I guess they got scared that were already approved for the dragon was at risk," said construction." Bowen. But Henderson said that But Bowen said she new development in the city doesn't know who put the is a complicated question, "Save the Dragon" sign out, and not one easily answered. and Barbara Wanlass said "As far as projected she doesn't know who it was growth goes, that's a hard either. question to answer," he said. Karen Boothe, who lives "Everyone wants to come. around the corner from 400 Those that are here don't North, said, "That dragon has want them to. Salem is a nice been there since we've lived place, a beautiful land, and in Salem. It's like an icon. You very expensive. We know we just get attached to something need to safeguard that quality when you've driven past it of life, that rural atmosphere. every day of your life. We've We don't want to be wall to even celebrated holidays with wall asphalt and cement, but it. One year on New Year's yes, we have developers lined with a bunch of friends we up right and left trying to get set off our fireworks by the into Salem." dragon." With all this development, Boothe said it was when will the dragon get to stay? the big tree along Woodland Rexine Otteson said that Hills Drive went down for the the family doesn't have any Salem Heights subdivision plans to sell. that she and Jean Riches "The dragon is safe right decided to go in, "under the now," said Rexine, even cloak of darkness" and put though she admitted, "He'll" out.the "Save the Dragon" look funny with all those new sign. houses around him." |