01-22-08 1B Market Study - Laserfiche WebLink

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EMPLOYMENT TRENDS AND CHARACTERISTICS Major Employer Interviews Maxfield Research Inc. interviewed employer representatives in the Arden Hills Market Area in December, 2007. The interviews covered topics such as recent trends in job growth, projected job growth, job types, and average hourly wages or annual salaries. Representatives were also asked about housing needs of their employees. Interviews with the area's largest employers not only provide data regarding commercial job growth, but also reveal employer attitudes and per- ceptions regarding housing demand. Table II below shows these employers. Employee housing appeared to be a concern only for those businesses paying $9 - $17 per hour for customer service, support, or electronic assembly work. Such employers felt that their entry- level workers could benefit from affordable rental that would allow them to live closer to their workplaces. ~ The head of Human Resources for Celestica in Arden Hills stated that she believes af- fordable housing is needed in the area. Fifty percent of their workforce is recent immi- grants, mainly from Africa and Southeast Asia. Many live in rental developments in Minneapolis and St. Paul aud drive to work in Arden Hills. About 10 employees have signed on with Habitat for Humanity over the past decade to get new homes. TABLE 11 EMPLOYERS INTERVIEWED ARDEN HILLS AREA December 2007 Anticpated Employer Employee Count Expansion Medtronic, Mounds View Facility 3,000 Yes, to 6,000 Deluxe Corporation, Shoreview 2,200 Unknown Boston Scientific, Arden Hills 2,000 Layoffs likely Land 0 Lakes, Arden Hills, Shorcview 1.300 Just added J 50 Celestia, Arden Hills 650 Yes Smith Medical, Arden Hills 400 Stay same Transoma Medical, Arden Hills 312 Yes Country Insurance & Financial Services, Arden Hills 280 Yes, slightly Hypro LLC, New Brighton 254 - Health & Rehab, New Brighton 160 - Health Partners, Urgent Care, Arden Hills 60 No Sources: Maxfield Research Inc. ~ Several employers such as Medtronic and Health Partners said they have not addressed worker housing needs and have not heard that there is any problem in that area. Employ- ers paying higher salaries typically report hearing no complaints or questions about hous- ing from their employees. One employer representative stated that not many oftheir pro- fessional staff would be interested in living across the street from their workplace. "They can live anywhere." MAXFIELD RESEARCH INC. 32