Why KC 2.0
KC 2.0 is a marketing and branding initiative aimed at attracting Kansas City’s next generation of world-class talent. The primary goal of the initiative is to improve your success in attracting targeted employees to jobs in the Kansas City region.
The program provides a suite of products and services primarily focused on promoting the lifestyle and career assets of the KC area.
Products and services are available to KCADC investor members only. Contact Jessica Nelson to learn more about becoming a KCADC investor.
Why Talent Recruitment?
A growing concern for KCADC investor companies is the challenges they face in recruiting new employees from outside of the KC market. Recruiting the 24- to 35-year-old, single, college-educated professional, as well as college graduates from the East and West coasts, is of special concern.
The concern expressed by KCADC investors is a national trend facing corporations across the U.S. The Baby Boomer generation is beginning to retire and the generation of workers just behind them is 15% smaller. Competition is fierce for the best and brightest individuals to fill that gap.
Research
KC 2.0 staff have spent countless hours reaching out to regional and national recruitment experts to identify key issues, assets and challenges to recruiting job candidates to the KC region.
The following summaries are available to KCADC investor members for background, presentations and use in developing messaging and marketing materials.
Please contact us with questions or for more details.
KC Area Recruitment Research
Through interviews with the top 20 largest employers in the KC region, we learned that the primary recruitment challenges were:
- Recruiting minority candidates
- Lack of materials or lack of updated materials that provide information on the assets of living and working in the KC region.
- Kansas City, Missouri Schools’ reputation creates an overall perception of lack of quality education across the region.
- Antiquated perceptions of the region – rural; lack of entertainment options; unsophisticated; non-cosmopolitan; second-tier
- The most difficult demographic to recruit to Kansas City is the 24- to 35-year-old, single, college-educated professional. This is also the group that appeared to be the most needed, and most sought-after for future success of the company.
“Young and Restless”: Impresa Consulting
A study focused on the 24- to 35-year-old, single, college-educated professionals. Explains challenges and opportunities related to this highly sought-after demographic:
Positives:
- KC is gaining college-educated young people
- KC does well attracting young college-educated people from Iowa, Nebraska, and smaller towns in Kansas and Missouri. Also attracts net migration from several coastal Sunbelt cities.
- Low housing prices and lack of traffic congestion are viewed as a plus.
- KC is viewed as a friendly city with a good work-life balance.
- KC has competitive salaries and work options.
- KC is a strong environment for families.
- Revitalization of downtown is a plus.
- Strong sports and entertainment options
Negatives:
- Lack of strong transit
- Lack of diversity and significant out-migration of African-Americans
- Weak close-in neighborhoods
- Inability to pinpoint its own distinctive identity and DNA
- Feelings of disconnectness, both geographically and socially, among young singles
- Concerns about quality of the public schools and crime
Phone 816.221.2121 || Fax 816.842.2865 || Toll Free 800.99KCADC || www.thinkkc.com
KC 2.0 program inquiries: || All other inquiries: kcadc@thinkkc.com
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