This Week's Herman Trend Alert Demand-Driven Workforce Development

The Herman Trend Alert January 17, 2007 Revitalization of Downtowns In cities in developed countries worldwide, we are seeing a revitalization of downtown areas. Sometimes called “re-gentrification”, this phenomenon is being fueled by a number of trends: First, gasoline prices that remain stubbornly over $2 per gallon have hurt United States’ workers who commute. Some employers even provide supplements to their employees to ease that financial pain. Second, as populations grow, so does traffic congestion. When Joyce first moved to Greensboro, North Carolina in 1996, she was fond of saying that Greensboro’s idea of traffic congestion was six cars lined up at a red light. Due to development, the traffic congestion has increased substantially. Americans average about 100 hours commuting each year, about 20 hours longer than the average vacation most U.S. employees receive each year. Folks appreciate the opportunity to live in close proximity to their work, so that they may enjoy better balance between their personal- and work-lives. Living downtown, many people can even walk to work. We are seeing this development in many parts of the U.S. and in other countries as well. Domestically, communities where this trend is evident include Washington, D.C., El Paso, Texas, and Greensboro, North Carolina. Outside of the U.S., we see this trend in Ottawa and London. However no where is it more impressive than in Atlanta, Georgia, where the latest project is a multi-billion dollar venture called “Atlantic Station.” Built on the land previously occupied by the Atlantic Steel Mill, this huge development will ultimately include dozens of restaurants (many world-class), an IKEA retail store among numerous others, middle-income to affluent housing for over 10,000 people, and employment opportunities for 30,000 workers. The problem is often that the existing downtown infrastructure is insufficient to handle the growth of traffic and people. As development drives the exponential growth of money invested in these downtown areas, this ramping up continues to cause critical shortages in skilled labor in the construction industry. Another important implication for employers is the push for them to relocate back to cities. Employers that recognize this trend early will enjoy very favorable pricing for their new plants and offices. © Copyright 1998-2008 by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc." DON'T BE LEFT BEHIND! If you've been thinking about attending our valuable Employee Retention Specialist Certificate Program, don't delay--only three spaces remain. With the employment market heating up, many positions are literally impossible to fill. Attend this course and you will learn dozens of low-/no-cost valuable strategies to attract and retain the talent you need. Recertification credit from HRCI. Next program: May 22-23, Charleston, SC. Call Carol at 336-282-9370 or visit http://www.employeeretentionspecialist.com. GET INSIDE THE MINDS OF YOUR EMPLOYEES Find out what's really going on inside the hearts and minds of your employees. Our InnerViews interviewing service uses SPHRs and PHRs, certified human resource professionals to probe for the information you really need to know. Exit and Stay Interviews, as well as Why-Didn't-You-Take-Our-Offer Interviews. Call Rosalie Catalano at 937-648-1918 or read more at: http://www.hermangroup.com/retentionconnection/exit_interviews.html. NEW BABY BONUS Book Joyce to speak on the West Coast in 2008 and receive 100 of her books of your choosing. There is a new baby in the family, Spencer Jay, and Joyce would appreciate more opportunities to watch him grow. For more about Joyce, visit http://www.hermangroup.com/joyce.html or call Joyce at 336-210-3548. Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers. New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. The Herman Trend Alert is received by over 30,000 subscribers in 78 countries, in addition to other websites and printed magazines. Do you enjoy receiving this weekly e-mail update? Contact us about our co-branded Trend Alert service. Click here to sign up for the Herman Trend Alert. Subscribe or Unsubscribe to weekly Herman Trend Alert View this week's Herman Trend Alert Archived Weekly Herman Trend Alerts

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