Clarksville-Montgomery County Economic Development Council, Tennessee
Labor Market Assessment
The Challenge
Located 40 miles northwest of Nashville, the Clarksville-Montgomery County region has grown steadily in recent years. Comprised of four counties in two states, the Clarksville metropolitan statistical area population is forecast to surpass 300,000 by 2020. To better understand the characteristics of the local workforce and the opportunities they present for industrial recruitment and retention, the Clarksville-Montgomery County Economic Development Council (CMCEDC) engaged TIP Strategies to conduct a workforce assessment and community audit for the region surrounding Fort Campbell. The purpose of the study was threefold:
- to investigate and document the demographics of the regional labor force
- to determine the availability of a quality workforce to support the hiring needs of both existing and prospective employers
- to understand the influence of Fort Campbell.
The Approach
Our work began by defining the regional labor shed based on commuting patterns and data compiled from major employers in the region. We then analyzed the area’s demographics from the perspective of current and future employers. This data analysis was supplemented by interviews with major employers, higher education representatives, and community leaders. Throughout the study particular emphasis was placed on understanding the resource represented by Fort Campbell. Towards that end, we met with military officials, as well as active duty soldiers and their spouses to gain an understanding of how the region was viewed in terms of the economic opportunity afforded to spouses or to soldiers upon separation from service. In addition, we benchmarked similarly situated communities to gather information on best practices which might inform recommendations for the region.
The Outcome
One of the region’s greatest economic development assets is the pool of skilled, disciplined, and motivated workers associated with Fort Campbell. This workforce consists of Army retirees living in the region as well as current soldiers separating from service through Fort Campbell. This pool of existing and potential labor is further enhanced by the spouses of active duty personnel and veterans, who themselves are often highly skilled and educated.
Unfortunately, many military families do not remain in the Clarksville area after their service ends due to a lack of adequate employment opportunities that fully utilize their skills and abilities. In order better understand and document the unique characteristics of the region’s military related workforce, TIP helped the CMCEDC create a mechanism to inventory the intentions, educational levels, skills, and desired employment of soldiers separating from the military at Fort Campbell, as well as the spouses of soldiers stationed at Fort Campbell. This inventory will capture critical information about this population that can be used to recruit companies considering new locations for relocation or expansion, thus providing enhanced employment opportunities for residents in the Fort Campbell region.
Liana Wallace Vice President of Marketing and Communications Clarksville-Montgomery County Economic Development Council P.O. Box 883 25 Jefferson St., Ste. 300 Clarksville, TN 37041 931.551.4313, ext. 227 800.530.2487 lwallace@clarksville.tn.us
