The information provided in this report indicates that a prospective new employer
providing job opportunities with competitive wages and benefits and offering career
opportunities would be a welcome addition to the employment base in Norfolk and
Madison County. The response to such employment opportunities would be substantial,
and as this report shows, there is a sizeable labor force and population base living within
the Norfolk Labor Area. Some of the pertinent findings of the report include:
Population in the Norfolk Labor Area (Madison County plus the six contiguous
counties) totaled 101,032 people in 2008, with the Madison County population
totaling 34,020. Population in Madison County declined by 3.4 percent during the
2000–2008 period, compared to a population decrease of 3.8 percent for the
seven-county Norfolk Labor Area as a whole.
The labor force for the Norfolk Labor Area totaled 58,050 in 2008, with 56,271
local residents employed in jobs either within or outside the area. A total of
52,606 persons were employed in nonfarm wage and salary jobs located within the
area. These data suggest that a substantial number of residents of the Norfolk Labor
Area were commuting out of the area for employment.
The number of people who lived in Madison County that were employed totaled
18,603 in 2008; yet, there were 21,552 persons employed in nonfarm wage and
salary jobs within the county. This indicates residents of surrounding counties are
commuting into Madison County.
Average annual wages for all nonfarm wage and salary employees in the Norfolk
Labor Area were $5,003 less than the Nebraska average. Within the labor area,
Stanton County had the highest average wage, $55,025 or $19,235 higher than the
Nebraska average. In Madison County, average annual salaries were $4,748 less
than the state average.
The basic conclusion of this report, which follows from the data and analysis presented,
is that the Norfolk Labor Area and Madison County would be able to provide a
significant number of dedicated and skilled workers to meet the needs of additional
employers in the area. While this report has not estimated a precise number of people that
may be available for a prospective new employer in the Norfolk area, it is anticipated that
if attractive working conditions with competitive wages and employee benefits were
offered, a prospective new employer would be able to select their workforce from a
substantial pool of applicants.
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