VENTURA, CA. - Approximately 8,500 Ventura County employers will be getting a call in the coming weeks as part of a Comprehensive Labor Market Study sponsored by the Workforce Investment Board of Ventura County (WIB).

The study targets most Ventura County businesses with five or more employees. The information collected through the telephone interviews will be used by WIB to help identify current and future employment needs of local businesses and economic opportunities for Ventura County business growth.

"Much has changed since our last labor market survey in 2008," says Steve Kinney, WIB chair and president of the Economic Development Corporation of Oxnard. “The information we gather will provide a clear picture of the changing demands of workforce development in Ventura County. We want to be sure that our programs and services are relevant and timely for job seekers and employers."

ERISS Corporation, a leader in business census surveys, will be conducting the automated telephone interviews for the next 10 to 12 weeks. These individual interviews with the company's human resources representative will take about 10 minutes. Following completion of the survey, the data will be analyzed and compiled in a final report in March 2011.

“When you receive the call from ERISS, please take a few minutes to respond," says Cheryl Moore, WIB executive director. "With your help, we will be able to gather the comprehensive information needed to continue to develop a strong workforce in Ventura County."

All wage and salary information collected during the survey is confidential. Employers interested in reviewing the survey prior to the call may visit www.usworks.com\VenturaCountyWIB. For more information, call 800-500-7705.