DAPHNE – Baldwin County’s job market is improving after a year of the economic effects of COVID-19, but future employment prospects might be different from those of the past, Josh Duplantis, dean of Workforce Development at Coastal Alabama Community College, said.
Duplantis spoke at the recent Baldwin County Career and Job Fair conducted by the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce. He conducted two workshops on “Reinventing Yourself After COVID-19.” He said Baldwin County’s economy and job opportunities are growing faster than almost any other area of Alabama or the Southeast.
“Having worked in several different states over my career, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Louisiana, Baldwin County has become one of the most diverse and unique economies growing here that I think you'll see anywhere. Manufacturing base, tourism, not just in Gulf Shores, but along our Eastern Shore -- growth happening in all those different sections,” Duplantis said. “Getting into the Baldwin County workforce at this point is a wonderful opportunity because you see nothing but growth and with growth we are also in a unique opportunity.”
One obstacle many job applicants now face is getting their application or resume past computer filters, or applicant tracking systems, and to a person, Duplantis said. Wording on a resume should be adapted to each job position with specific language targeted at that company.
“They're not getting past the ATS,” he said. “Nobody's seeing their application. ATS's are pretty much a big word-magic robot. When you view a job description online, it is in your best interest to mimic the exact language of the job description in your resume. So, if you see the words in a job description, 'must provide exceptional customer service,' what should you write in your resume, a time when you provided exceptional customer service.”
Duplantis said two skills that many employers look for are customer service and safety.
“I don't care if you have done that at McDonald's and Vulcan Construction Company or Performance Materials, every business out there wants people who can stay safe on the job and take care of their customers -- period,” Duplantis said.
Another tip is to try to apply in person.
“In some instances, with COVID, you can't just walk into a place and slap a resume on somebody's desk, but we're getting back to there and that's always an option,” Duplantis said. “That's always the thing I always tell people when they say 'well, I've applied to a bunch of jobs online, but I have not gotten anything.' Have you walked into the place of business? What's the worst thing they could tell you? ‘Get out?’”
Baldwin County has a expanding variety of jobs, he said. Sales, food, office administration and support, transportation and material moving are all growing markets.
Health care is another field where jobs are increasing at a faster rate than the state average. In the next 10 years, healthcare jobs are expected to grow by 28 percent in Baldwin County, compared to 7 percent statewide, Duplantis said.
“Those are things that are coming down the pike in this county, manufacturing, construction, government jobs, distribution and logistics, healthcare, all slated to grow tremendously in Baldwin County as we move forward in the next 10 years,” Duplantis said. “Of course, our hospitality and tourism market kind of drives our economy in a lot of ways.”
