There are still several opportunities to complete a City of Houston initiated labor survey of this area.
The short questionnaire will be used to aid the city in the development of new job opportunities and help existing employers, said Rob Harrington, the economic development director of the City of Houston.
Rob O’Brian, who operates a Joplin consulting business hired to do the survey and is the former head of the Joplin chamber, was in Houston on Friday and spoke during a noon meeting of the City of Houston Industrial Development Authority.
There are several opportunities to complete a survey hard copy or go online:
•10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday at Houston Walmart Supercenter.
•Miller’s Grill in Houston.
•Employees at Houston Walmart Supercenter and Durham Co. also received copies they can complete.
•Online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VTNNL7P
To receive an adequate statistical sampling, about 200 responses are needed. It is hoped work can be completed at the end of next week.
On Friday afternoon, Harrington and O’Brian said the survey is a solid step in providing data to prospective employers who are looking to locate jobs locally. At the same time, the tool is helpful for existing employers to learn wages in the region, why some workers leave their job and how they can better maintain their workforce.
“It creates a foundation to succeed,” said Harrington. Another tool underway in the community is a survey of housing. He said the labor and housing study, as well as Friday’s announcement of community college classes for Houston, as good first steps.