Labor Pool
Study yields good news for new business
by Fili Sagapolutele
Samoa News Correspondent
Up to 2,000 qualified
workers are available in American Samoa for new industries, such
as call centers, with another 6,000 that might be lured from
neighboring Samoa, according to the University of Hawai'i (UH)
report on the "American Samoa Labor Pool" study.
Funded by the
U.S. Department of Interior, the 300-page report was compiled
by the UH's Pacific Business Center Program (PBCP) and presented
to Gov. Togiola Tulafono three weeks ago in Honolulu.
ASG contracted
PBCP to identify a quality labor pool available in the territory
and nearby islands to support the creation of new ventures such
as ventures in the "knowledge industry" i.e. call centers,
according to an executive summary of the report received by Samoa
News.
Project manager
and PBCP director, Papali'i Dr. Tusi Avegalio told Samoa News
over the weekend the study "points to a supportive number"
of workforce in both American Samoa and Samoa.
"It also
takes into account the feedback of matai and various other stake
holders which surveys of this kind do not necessarily measure,
much less include," said Papali'i via e-mail from Honolulu.
"Another important point, is that all estimates are very
much on the conservative side so that there are most likely many
more people who are qualified, interested and available than
the figures we used."
The qualified
ALP identified in the study demonstrated the necessary analytic
and verbal skills to satisfy the requirements of new ventures
in the knowledge industry. This included knowledge of computer
usage, elementary mathematics skills such as elementary trigonometry,
and, importantly, adequate command of written and spoken English
language.
"Culture
impinges upon every aspect of human behavior. Fa'a-Samoa, the
Samoan way of life, is a very significant aspect of daily life
of the Samoan people," it says. "To accurately assess
the qualified ALP for a new venture in the knowledge industry
in Samoa, fa'a-Samoa must be taken into consideration when designing
the research methodology."
According to
PBCP, the multi-methodology research design chosen for this study
is more reliable and valid than a single methodology design.
RESULTS
A multi-methodology
design allowed the PBCP research team to assess the ALP from
diverse perspectives, and across differing levels of measurement
and analysis. The teams used four methods, with their results
below:
· Random
telephone survey in American Samoa: yielded a qualified ALP of
6,464 adults based upon 2007 population estimates. This group
has the necessary skills to meet the needs of jobs in the knowledge
industry. This number is based upon quality benefit packages
and a wage rate of $6.50 per hour.
If the wage rate
was reduced to $5.50 per hour, the qualified ALP predicted by
the telephone survey plunges to 1,521 adults.
· Paper
and pencil surveys in randomly selected villages in American
Samoa: yielded a qualified ALP of 6,476 adults based upon the
2007 population estimates. This group has the necessary skills
to meet the needs of jobs in the knowledge industry and this
number is based upon quality benefit packages and a wage rate
of $6.50 per hour If the wage rate was reduced to $5.50 per hour,
the qualified ALP predicted by the village survey plunges to
1,766 adults.
· American
Samoa Focus group discussions: yielded an estimated qualified
ALP of approximately 2,000 adults at prevailing wages such as
wages offered for government employment. If the wages were increased
above prevailing government wages, then the focus groups estimated
the qualified ALP to be approximately 6,000 adults
· Matai
and opinion leader interviews: no consensus appears to have been
reached as to the size of the qualified ALP in either American
Samoa or nearby islands.
"As a consequence
of the results of these multiple methodologies, the PBCP team
triangulates a qualified ALP of approximately 1,500 to 2,000
adults at prevailing government level wages in the Territory,"
according to the report. "If wages are increased to $6.50
per hour, then the qualified ALP grows to approximately 6,000
to 6,500 adults now residing in the Territory."
"However,
it must also be strongly acknowledged that of the 6,000 to 6,500
adults qualified for knowledge industry employment at the higher
wage rate, a refined analysis of our data indicates that over
50% of these individuals are currently employed by the government
of the Territory," it says, pointing to competition for
'the best and brightest of the Territory', with all the ramifications
that may entail for the quality of future government services.
The team also
conducted surveys in randomly selected villages in Samoa, and
has determined that there exists a qualified ALP of 6,251 adults,
based upon 2006 population estimates, who will be willing to
work at wage levels considerably lower than prevailing government
wages in American Samoa.
The PBCP team
also conducted a telephone survey of Samoan households in Hawaii
in order to determine the extent of a qualified ALP of Samoan
adults willing to consider relocating from Hawaii to American
Samoa for the "right" opportunity.
"The research
identified a qualified ALP of 1,783 adults of Samoan heritage
in Hawaii willing to consider relocation," the report says.
"Surprisingly, these 1,783 qualified adults were willing
to work in American Samoa at prevailing American Samoan government
level wages."
CONCLUSION
The PBCP team
says a new venture in the knowledge industry, such as a call
center, could find, at prevailing wage rates, at least 1,500
to approximately 2,000 qualified available workers currently
residing in the Territory.
In addition,
approximately another 6,000 might be lured from Samoa and approximately
1,700 might be lured from Hawaii, but this process will likely
be replete with complications and costs associated with that
relocation, born both by the venture and the current residents
of American Samoa.
"Or the
new venture could offer wage rates higher than those prevailing
in government service, and thereby find a qualified ALP of approximately
6,500 who are current residents of American Samoa, but this is
likely to result in the serious depletion of the government workforce,
with the best and brightest being the first to leave," it
says.
A third alternative,
suggested a number of times by matai and opinion leaders in both
American Samoa and Samoa, involves a dual organizational design
with the central venture located in American Samoa.
"It is suggested
that a new venture in the knowledge industry consider designing
an organization with its central structure and top management
located in American Samoa, but for the time being limiting the
size of this workforce to approximately 2,000 qualified adults,"
the PBCP team says.
"In addition,
the organizational design will also embrace a sister entity in
Samoa, with a middle level of management reporting to a central
center in American Samoa," the team noted.
The sister venture
will have access to the qualified ALP in Samoa of approximately
6,000 willing to work at very favorable wages.
"Lastly,
the Samoan way of life will greatly influence the success or
failure of any new venture located in the Territory. This will
be true in recruiting a new labor force as well as managing that
human resource. Only through recruitment and management approaches
that are consistent with faa-Samoa, will a new venture be able
to attract and maintain the qualified labor force necessary for
success," it says.
Reach the
reporter at
fili@samoanews.com.
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