Are all jobs created equal? To get a better sense of our community's perspective on this question, I have been conducting an informal survey over the past several months, where I have asked the question: "If we as a community had a goal of creating $100,000 of new annual payroll, would we rather have ten workers at $10,000 (roughly equivalent to part-time minimum wage jobs at 30 hours per week), four at $25,000 ($12 per hour full time), two at $50,000 ($25 per hour), or one at $100,000?"

Local labor data reveals that the majority of our workforce sits somewhere between the ten at $10,000 and four at $25,000 levels. This is largely due to our dependence on lower-wage, seasonal tourism, retail and local service industries. While we are grateful for the annual bounty tourism brings into our economy, there is more we can do.

The majority of my survey respondents voted for the two at $50,000 scenario. Some of their reasons for growing higher-wage year-round jobs in our community:

1. Creation of more disposable income for local retail and recreation spending.
2. Creation of more wealth, which employees will have available to invest in local services such as financial services, insurance, and real estate.
3. Keeping more of the talent produced at local schools/universities here in the Black Hills.
4. Increasing sales and property tax revenues all year due to higher money flow.
5. More resources made available to help local charities and non-profits while the needs of public assistance and social services are reduced.
6. Intangible benefits for workers, such as more certain futures, less personal anxieties and more economic freedom.

Striking a healthier balance between entry-level, skilled-trade and professional level jobs is our goal as we focus on quality, primary jobs-those jobs that import new wealth into the community on a year-round basis and increase our community's standard of living. Beginning this year, we will lead a regional effort focused on attracting and growing employment in specific targeted industries providing higher year-round wages.

To be a part of our program and help us grow higher-wage jobs in Rapid City and the Greater Black Hills, please give us a call at (605) 343-1880 or visit our website www.RapidDevelopment.com. We look forward to working with you!

2011 SUMMER REPORT
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	The value of higher-wage jobs in our economy