Data from a recently completed Barron County labor market study suggests the local economy may be on the rebound, said Andrew Dane, Barron County UW-Extension community development agent.

Dane recently completed the countywide study with Gary Green of the UW-Extension and David Miller of Barron County Economic Development.

Fifty-two of the county's major employers were surveyed to determine the current and anticipated demand for labor in the region. Fewer employers are laying off workers, and many expect to hire more workers in the next year or so.

Scott Hodek of the Department of Workforce Development, will present all the findings of the study Monday at 7:30 a.m. at WITC in Rice Lake. Afterward, Dane will share results of the Barron County Green Jobs Study, and Miller will provide an update on the county's Business Retention and Expansion Study.

Other key findings from the labor market study show:

• The largest number of current vacancies and the largest number of anticipated vacancies are for commission sales, machine operators, mechanics and repair and laborers.

• Employee wages are increasing but at a lower rate than 5 years ago.

• The costs of benefits to employers are also rising rapidly, about 13% last year, but employers are not passing on many of these increased costs to workers. Most employers continue to see their benefit package as a critical mechanism for recruiting and retaining qualified workers.

• The demand for labor in the region has begun to shift to more skilled work, although not as quickly as some other regions in the state. "There appears to be much more demand for semi-skilled and skilled workers in the area than there was 5 years ago," said Dane. As employers adopt new technology and hire more skilled workers, they will probably need fewer workers in the future, he said.

• 18% of the workforce is older than 55 years.

• 38% of the employers report they are having difficulty in recruiting qualified workers. This percentage has declined significantly from 5 years ago.

• The average worker turnover rate in the county was 6.7%, which is much lower than the 10% rate in 2004, and considerably lower compared to 17% in 2000.

• Almost all of employers offer paid vacations and health insurance to their employees. Ninety percent of employers extend health insurance to employees' family members. However, employees pay for a majority of the coverage.

There is no cost for attending Monday's presentation, but registration is suggested. To register, e- mail "david.miller@co.barron.wi.us" or "andrew.dane@ces.uwex.edu."