Workforce
The Birmingham - Hoover Metropolitan Area has excellent proximity and accessibility to Alabama's most densely populated region: north central Alabama. The region's comprehensive interstate network positions Birmingham - Hoover at the center of a 14-county workforce recruitment region. Representing about 39% of Alabama's workforce, the 14-county region has a population of 1,694,555 and a workforce of more than 820,000. The seven-county Birmingham - Hoover Metropolitan Area is the region's core with a population of 1,103,474 and a workforce 618,793. The region's 317,839 employee office market extends from downtown Birmingham south into northern Shelby County.
Birmingham - Hoover's stature as the largest economic center in Alabama makes it a destination for employment opportunities. Located within the 14-county workforce recruitment region are more than two dozen universities, colleges and technical schools with a combined enrollment of more than 90,000 students. The region's concentration of post secondary schools has fueled the growth of a dynamic office market. Home to many of the largest national and regional corporations in Alabama, Birmingham - Hoover's office market has a Bachelor Degree attainment of more than 50%.
A diverse mix of high-profile companies have benefited from access to Alabama's most populated region. A strong manufacturing heritage coupled with a growing service sector economy gives the employment base a varied skills set. Companies such as: Mercedes Benz U.S. International, Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, OfficeMax, State Farm Insurance, Infinity Insurance and SurModics have recently located or expanded in the Birmingham region.
Workforce Training
Ranked as the number one workforce training program in the United States by Site Selection magazine, AIDT is an institute of the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education. AIDT will provide a comprehensive recruiting and training program for companies locating or expanding in the Birmingham - Hoover Metropolitan Area. AIDT staff will work with company officials to customize a classroom and hands-on workforce training program that meets the company's specific employment criteria and skills. The program is free to the employer and trainees and will allow the pre-employment identification of the most qualified and experienced candidates.
Services Offered
- Pre-Employment Selection and Training
- Leadership Development
- Industrial Safety Assessment
- Maintenance Assessment
Birmingham - Hoover Regional Employment Comparisons | ||||||||
| 2007 Employment Estimates | 14-County Region | Birmingham - Hoover | Metro Office Market | Alabama | ||||
| Population Estimate | 1,694,555 | 1,103,474 | 263,976 | 4,607,847 | ||||
| Workforce (population16 years or older) | 909,230 | 100% | 618,793 | 100% | 317,839 | 100% | 2,352,770 | 100% |
| Retail Trade | 179,262 | 20% | 116,175 | 19% | 51,649 | 16% | 471,763 | 20% |
| Finance, Insurance, Real Estate (F.I.R.E.) | 59,538 | 7% | 47,959 | 8% | 35,399 | 11% | 130,878 | 6% |
| Banks, Saving & Lending inst. | 18,659 | 2% | 13,947 | 2% | 8,059 | 3% | 45,708 | 2% |
| Security, Commodity Brokers | 4,991 | 1% | 4,707 | 1% | 4,469 | 1% | 8,423 | 0% |
| Insurance Carriers & Agencies | 16,882 | 2% | 14,767 | 2% | 12,973 | 4% | 29,587 | 1% |
| Real Estate, Holding cos. | 19,006 | 2% | 14,538 | 2% | 9,898 | 3% | 47,160 | 2% |
| Services | 347,522 | 38% | 246,045 | 40% | 145,857 | 46% | 861,666 | 37% |
| Hotels & Other Lodging | 7,462 | 1% | 5,258 | 1% | 3,038 | 1% | 22,776 | 1% |
| Personal Services | 27,562 | 3% | 19,132 | 3% | 8,030 | 3% | 71,365 | 3% |
| Business Services | 46,531 | 5% | 35,875 | 6% | 24,757 | 8% | 115,389 | 5% |
| Motion Picture and Amusement | 13,021 | 1% | 9,377 | 2% | 4,290 | 1% | 35,401 | 2% |
| Health Services | 107,423 | 12% | 76,153 | 12% | 50,130 | 16% | 245,615 | 10% |
| Legal Services | 10,875 | 1% | 9,107 | 1% | 8,010 | 3% | 21,332 | 1% |
| Educational Services | 65,945 | 7% | 42,591 | 7% | 21,745 | 7% | 165,583 | 7% |
| Social Services | 21,773 | 2% | 15,258 | 2% | 8,272 | 3% | 56,668 | 2% |
| Other Services | 46,930 | 5% | 33,294 | 5% | 17,585 | 6% | 127,537 | 5% |
| Agriculture and Natural Resources | 7,373 | 1% | 5,333 | 1% | 2,541 | 1% | 23,077 | 1% |
| Resource Extraction | 4,330 | 0% | 2,252 | 0% | 428 | 0% | 6,319 | 0% |
| Construction | 47,689 | 5% | 32,615 | 5% | 13,550 | 4% | 118,632 | 5% |
| Manufacturing | 111,051 | 12% | 63,170 | 10% | 18,809 | 6% | 317,768 | 14% |
| Transport/Communications, Utilities | 51,764 | 6% | 37,756 | 6% | 19,854 | 6% | 130,345 | 6% |
| Wholesale Trade | 42,654 | 5% | 31,191 | 5% | 11,587 | 4% | 108,179 | 5% |
| Government | 58,047 | 6% | 36,297 | 6% | 18,165 | 6% | 184,143 | 8% |
| Source: EDPA Claritas Statistics 3/08 (employment statistics were compiled by place of work, daytime business population) | ||||||||
Birmingham - Hoover Educational Attainment | ||||||||
| 2007 Educational Attainment | 14-County Region | Birmingham - Hoover | Metro Office Market | Alabama | ||||
| Population 25 years or older | 1,135,357 | 100% | 740,540 | 100% | 179,282 | 100% | 3,061,053 | 100% |
| Less than 9th Grade | 83,812 | 7% | 48,814 | 7% | 4,153 | 2% | 248,233 | 8% |
| Some High School No Diploma | 173,539 | 15% | 105,151 | 14% | 9,534 | 5% | 491,459 | 16% |
| High School Graduate (or GED) | 337,679 | 30% | 213,369 | 29% | 26,868 | 15% | 923,348 | 30% |
| Some College, no degree | 241,114 | 21% | 160,043 | 22% | 38,040 | 21% | 630,454 | 21% |
| Associate Degree | 62,747 | 6% | 40,794 | 6% | 8,457 | 5% | 165,966 | 5% |
| Bachelor Degree | 151,359 | 13% | 112,923 | 15% | 58,678 | 33% | 384,901 | 13% |
| Master Degree | 56,400 | 5% | 38,648 | 5% | 19,704 | 11% | 151,128 | 5% |
| Professional School Degree | 19,711 | 2% | 14,920 | 2% | 9,902 | 6% | 42,888 | 1% |
| Doctorate Degree | 8,996 | 1% | 5,878 | 1% | 3,946 | 2% | 22,676 | 1% |
| Population with Bachelor Degree | 236,466 | 21% | 172,369 | 23% | 92,230 | 51% | 601,593 | 20% |
| Source: EDPA Claritas Statistics 3/08 | ||||||||