Rural Workforce Trends video

Rural Workforce Trends

Workforce issues are the most complex challenges for rural communities, today and for a long time now. Learn about new developments that mean some of the old limits don’t have to be limits any more. You’ll also learn how the Idea Friendly Method gives you a do-able, flexible approach to your local workforce challenges.

Find out how in this 28 minute video, available immediately.

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In 2021, nearly 2/3rds of rural business people chose the workforce as a challenge they wanted help with

Survey of Rural Challenges, 2021

No wonder rural employers struggle to fill jobs.

Rural populations are older, with more disability, more addiction, lower education rates and lower participation rates.

That’s before we consider all the other factors that complicate it. There’s workplace culture, pay and benefits, education from early childhood through secondary, technical and college. Many rural places have seasonal workforce challenges especially in tourism and agriculture. There are even more factors outside the workplace like lack of housing, childcare, eldercare, drug and addiction recovery, and inadequate broadband.

Then, COVID. More women and older workers left the workforce, more people work remotely, a mental health crisis is brewing in the workplace, and young people are entering the workforce with a different communication style, a bit more reticent from years of remote schooling and work.

After decades of struggling, some limited beliefs have taken hold.

There are good ideas out there, things that can help address workforce challenges and improve your local economy. We’ve collected a lot of ideas from our travels to small towns, our Survey of Rural Challenges and listening to rural people like you. Too often, when we suggest one of these ideas to a struggling employer, they might respond with limited beliefs like:

“We post jobs, but no one applies!”

“The few who do apply just aren’t qualified!”

“We can’t afford to pay better!”

"Employees are too distracted by outside issues like childcare or addiction!"

"We don't require much. Just a college degree/great physical strength/spotless record/complete flexibility in shift work!"

Some of those old limits don’t have to be limits any more.

Break down those old requirements

The new workforce mindset is to break down the requirements and the work into smaller pieces that better fit the people you have available.

Elliot Lake, in remote northern Ontario, is known as a retirement town, and their population is much older than the average town. Jessie, owner of Jessie’s Towing, struggled to find younger workers who could handle the physical labor his jobs required. He decided to try hiring older workers, but it took some creative thinking. Once he modified his equipment and tools to take less brute strength, he was able to find more people who could do the work.

That’s the new mindset: literally cut down the equipment if you have to.

In this video, you'll get

Practical steps you can put into action right away to get past old limits and build a better workforce for your community. Instead of searching for that one giant perfect solution, we want you to take action right away on the part you are most excited to change.

Uncover old limiting beliefs that hold people back

What's keeping your workforce in perpetual shortage? Why do jobs stay open so long with no applicants? Why don't people have all the skills employers need?

While there are no easy answers, there are key mindset shifts to help change the entire situation.

Hear real-world examples and get practical steps

Find out how Ponca City is tapping a workforce that's often overlooked.
And learn how to see people you are overlooking.

That's just one example. You'll hear more than a dozen others.

Look ahead to trends reshaping the nature of work and training

All work is being automated or replaced.
Manufacturing is a service, ordered via app.
Augmented and virtual reality are extending what you can do and learn from even the smallest rural community.

Are you keeping up with the trends?

What changes because you watch this video

You'll learn and apply the Idea Friendly Method. You'll stop thinking only of big and comprehensive projects.

You'll take the small practical steps that generate immediate results. You'll kill that old feeling of helplessness in the face of workforce challenges. Even temporary fixes can buy time for longer community efforts to take root.

Rural Workforce Trends Video

28 minute video
Available to watch immediately

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Build a fairer community

We're focused on helping you build a fairer, more unified community. With all the forces that feel like they're pulling us apart, we want to help local communities like yours join together better.

In this video, you'll learn how to get past some of the old limits that stopped people from having a fair chance in the workforce.

You can trust SaveYour.Town's Becky McCray and Deb Brown to share practical advice for rural communities.

We are both small town entrepreneurs. We've worked and been trained in traditional economic, workforce and organization development.

Becky worked in the workforce development system, earning a Quality Leader certificate from the Workforce Oklahoma Training Institute. As an employer and small town retail store owner, she dealt with workforce challenges first hand and served on her local technical center's business advisory committee.

As a chamber of commerce director, Deb worked closely with local businesses on workforce issues and joined statewide workforce initiatives. During her work in retail management she also dealt with the full range of workforce issues.

Get the full video to watch on your own and share with others in your community.

This video is perfect for:

Workforce boards and organizations
Indigenous, First Nations and Native Tribes, governments, and economic development organizations
Economic development, jobs development authorities, industrial development groups
Community development groups, extension, community futures, community foundations
Downtown groups, Main Street, merchants associations, retail groups
Chambers of Commerce, independent business alliances, business improvement groups
Local and municipal governments, councils of governments
Community banks, credit unions, community cooperatives, uilities
Youth organizations

Not another tiresome webinar

Short, to the point video

Watch instantly on your schedule: anytime, on demand, starting now

Recorded so you can pause, stop, rewind or watch again immediately

You get personal access to Becky and Deb via message, email and comment. We do answer your questions personally!

Rural Workforce Trends Video

28 minute video

Available immediately - no waiting

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Is this video recorded so I can watch later?

Yes, the video is recorded, and you'll be able to watch it immediately as soon as you complete your purchase. You are welcome to watch the video more than once, start and stop, or go back and watch again. You're not limited to watching from a single computer or with just one group.

Can I get a copy of the slides?

You get a transcript plus an audio-only version for listening on the go. (We don't do slides very often, but if we do, we share them with you.)

What if I have questions?

You can ask questions two ways: in the comment box or via email. We always answer you personally. You can also share stories or examples you've seen. That helps everyone!

Will the video play on my computer? Or on my phone?

Either one! If you can watch a YouTube video, you can watch this video. That means you can use any device, any screen that can load a web page for you to login. Any PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, Android phone or tablet, smart TV or TV with a streaming box or stick should work.
You don't need blazing fast internet.

Can I share the video with other people?

Yes! Once you’re registered, you can schedule more than one viewing so you reach as many people as possible. We encourage you to watch on your own or set up an in-person or virtual watch party.

How long should I make a watch party?

For a watch party, schedule 45 -50 minutes. You'll want that extra time to discuss what you watched and to network and talk with each other.

Who should I invite?

Your friends who love to do things with you
Visionaries like yourself
Downtown associations, Main Streets, chambers and economic developers
Positive thinkers and doers
Leaders and regular people
Community foundations and leadership groups
Youth groups, young entrepreneurs
Elected officials from your local municipalities, counties or tribes
Business with a community focus, like banks and utilities
People who care about your town

What people say about SaveYour.Town videos

This video stimulated lots of note-taking and conversation between the business owners gathered at my house. Deb and Becky gave us some new ideas and several excellent examples of known models. I think some of us are thinking of pivoting our summer’s plans after participating in Wednesday’s event. Thanks for a well-thought out presentation!

Jonya Pacey, Minnesota

What a TERRIFIC marketing Video. I had 20 businesses show up to watch and they all left with new ideas and an excitement to get back and start implementing! I’ve already had 5 businesses reach out in less than 2 hours after it ended, that are already putting your ideas into action.

Mandy Walsh, City of Lampasas, Texas

There are always great take-aways from the videos that can be put into place immediately. One of my favorites is changing your store's evening vibe (different music, lighting, etc.) because evening shoppers are not the same as day time shoppers.

Diane Moore, Wheaton, Illinois

Videos by SaveYour.Town are fun way to learn some no-nonsense alternatives to community inertia.

Clark Hoskin, Ontario

Rural Workforce Trends Video

28 minute video
Immediate access

Add to Cart