Building and grounds cleaning jobs have most vacancies in Corridor region

CEDAR RAPIDS - Building and grounds cleaning jobs are among the most open in the region, according to a report released by the state.

The annual Workforce Needs Assessment, released by Iowa Workforce Development, surveyed 1,305 employers in Linn, Johnson, Benton, Cedar, Iowa and Washington counties, about their current level of employment and their current and expected job vacancies. Overall, 32.4 percent of respondents within the region reported current or anticipated job vacancies. The majority of those vacancies are in the building and grounds cleaning and maintenance category, making up 18.6 percent of overall vacancies in the region. Employers reported an 11 percent vacancy rate among office and administrative support jobs. Eleven percent of jobs in the sales field are vacant as well. The report also showed there are more job vacancies than unemployed people in the region, estimating 10,896 unemployed people and 18,493 open jobs. This differs statewide, where there are an estimated 44,472 job openings and 75,270 unemployed people.

Statewide, job vacancies look a bit different. Employers reported sales jobs had the most openings, with 12 percent of those positions vacant statewide. Office and administrative support, like in the region, reported a 11 percent vacancy. Jobs in the transportation sector have an 11 percent vacancy statewide, the report said. Regional employers surveyed also indicated they're more likely to maintain their workforce - 67 percent won't make any new hires while 31.5 percent plan to expand and 1.4 percent plan to reduce their workforces.

Other information:

' 4.9 percent of the regional workforce is of retiring age

' Of those retiring in the next five years, 27 percent are within the manufacturing industry, followed by 22 percent within the healthcare and social services industry and 8 percent within the wholesale and retail trade industry