NEWS RELEASE - Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Press Release…. For immediate release

The Board of Directors of Sweetwater Enterprise for Economic Development (SEED) recently contracted with a consultant to provide a wage and benefit survey for the Sweetwater/Nolan County area.  The survey includes companies from the service sector, medical field, light manufacturing, heavy manufacturing, construction, banking, transportation, recycling, and graphics design.  The survey addressed questions concerning, but not limited to, the ease of recruitment, method of recruitment, satisfaction with entry level workers, benefit package, and more.  The survey was separated into 25 specific occupations and used a three point scoring system with a scale of (1-not satisfied, 2-somewhat satisfied, 3-very satisfied). 

When asked what method was used to recruit employees – the Texas Workforce Commission, word of mouth and the Sweetwater Reporter were the top three processes. An area that was a pleasant surprise was that of offered benefits.  Of the companies surveyed, those that offered medical insurance were 88% compared to a US average of 71%.  Dental insurance was offered by 69% of those surveyed compared to a 46% US average.  Paid holidays were offered by 100% of those surveyed compared to the US average of 76%.  The category we didn’t fare so well was in retirement benefits as only 30% of the local companies surveyed offered retirement benefits compared to the US average of 60%.

This survey is another step SEED has taken to assist our business community.  If you are a business owner in the Sweetwater/ Nolan County area and would like a copy of the survey results, please come by our office at 810 E. Broadway or by calling Ken Becker or Kirstin Smith at 325-235-0555.

As our slogan says, we are “The Sweetest Place in Texas for Business!”

 

Ken Becker, Executive Director
SEED
325-235-0555
ken@sweetwatertexas.net