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FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013
Vol. CXXIV, No. 41
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF TACOMA Devoted to the Courts, Real Estate, Finance, Industrial Activities, and Publication of Legal Notices
Published Since 1890
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Report: Wash. employers seek applicants with more education, skills
Posted online Weds., Feb. 27 A new report from the Washington State Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board shows the mismatch of workers' skills to employers' needs has a negative impact on businesses attempting to hire. "This skills deficit is hurting employers as well as workers," said Workforce Board ExPAPADAKIS ecutive Director Eleni Papadakis. "When employers can't find people with the right mix of education and skills, they can suffer lower productivity and reduced quality, and jobs go unfilled." According to the Workforce Board's 2012 Employer Survey, of the estimated 60,000 Washington employers who hired in the last 12 months, one in five had difficulty finding qualified applicants. Of
those who experienced hiring difficulties, one third left jobs unfilled. This came at a time when unemployment in Washington remained above 8 percent statewide, and reached double digits in some places. The report showed that of employers attempting to hire, roughly one out of three with hiring difficulties experienced reduced quality, reduced output or sales, or lower overall productivity. In particular, employers indicated the following types of skills as most frequently lacking in job candidates: Occupation-specific skills (85 percent); Positive work habits and attitudes (63 percent); and Communications skills (62 percent). Employers also reported difficulties finding workers with certain education levels, most often those with vocational diplomas or certificates, vocational associate's degrees or bachelor's degrees. The Workforce Board conducts the Employer Needs and Practices Survey every two years, in cooperation with the Association of Washington Business and the Washington Chamber of Commerce Executives. The 2012 survey was conducted between September and December and includes the responses of 2,800 employers.
City Council approves Alcohol Impact Area for Tacoma's West End Posted online Weds., Feb. 27 Photo Courtesy City of Tacoma Tacoma City Council adopted an ordinance Tuesday aimed to curb chronic public inebriation by creating an Alcohol Impact Area (AIA) in Tacoma's West End and North End neighborhoods. The ordinance allows the City of Tacoma to ask more than three-dozen businesses within the AIA to restrict the sale of nearly four-dozen cheap, fortified beer and wine beginning March 11. Washington State law requires a local jurisdiction to pass an ordinance creating a voluntary Alcohol Impact Area and then monitor the incidents of chronic public inebriation or illegal activity associated with alcohol sales or consumption in the area for six months. If problems persist, the local jurisdiction can ask the Washington State Liquor Control Board to officially designate the area as a mandatory Alcohol Impact Area. Tacoma already has two Alcohol Impact Areas: one in the downtown and Hilltop neighborhoods, created in 2001; and one in the Lincoln District, created in 2008. In October, city staff told Tacoma City Council's neighborhoods and housing commit-
tee that reported calls for service in the West End for alcohol-related incidents increased by over 40 percent in the past year, and fourfold since the Lincoln District Alcohol Impact Area was established five years ago. City staff also reported a request for the special designation was made by the West End Neighborhood Council and has received support from the North End Neighborhood Council, Central Neighborhood Council, Old Town Business District, 6th Avenue Business District, Tacoma Community College, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma Public Schools, Pierce Transit, and Metro Parks Tacoma.
The only comprehensive survey of its kind in Washington, the Workforce Board's Employer Survey shines a light on common workforce issues across a range of industries. The survey results are extrapolated to the state's 119,000 firms with two or more employees. For more details, including Survey Highlights and Summary, are available online at wtb.wa.gov/ EmployerSurvey.asp.
New compactors reduce waste, increase efďŹ ciency at Pierce County facilities
Photo Courtesy Pierce County In an ongoing effort to support sustainability and resource conservation, Pierce County Facilities Management has installed solar powered trash compactors and recycling units at two facilities. The units are powered by a solar panel, which utilizes a renewable energy source to run a compactor inside the container. Compacting the waste in the units allows custodial staff to reduce the number of garbage pickups, which saves time and resources for Pierce County. The compactors also enable the consolidation and reduction of existing trash cans at each site, which decreases the high number of trash bags used on a daily basis. In addition to increasing operational efficiencies, the units will reduce landfill waste by increasing accessibility to recycling at the facilities. A unique feature of the compacting units is their ability to communicate to custodial staff through an online interface. The units provide real-time information on how full they are, and allow staff to track and benchmark the volume of waste and recycling collected. The units are located at both the first- and second-floor entrances of the County-City Building and at the south entrance of the Annex.