HUMBOLDT — In an effort to attract more applicants, Monarch Cement Company is raising its entry-level starting pay to $27.10 per hour, an increase of nearly $7 an hour from previous rates.
Just a few years ago, Monarch might receive up to 150 applicants for a job opening. Now, they’re lucky to get a dozen, Kenny Miller, vice president of cement manufacturing, said.
“We didn’t have a very good selection pool, so we made a decision to increase the starting wage to get more interest in our jobs,” Miller said.
The wage also is based on a comparison of wages across Southeast Kansas, the cement industry in general and competition for employees at Ashgrove Aggregates, a cement company in nearby Chanute, Miller said.
Zip Recruiter, an online employment marketplace, lists the average hourly pay for an entry level job in Kansas at $12.90, with the majority of wages between $10.61 to $16.98 per hour.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average wage for all Allen County workers in the second quarter of 2023 was $21.48. In Kansas, it was $27.03.
MONARCH is seeking about 10 employees — “a big number,” Miller said, due to recent retirements and general attrition. The company generally employs around 100 hourly employees to keep the plant running efficiently.
The company recently completed negotiations with its union, then considered possible changes to its starting wage in order to remain competitive with area industries.
All new employees start in the general labor pool to allow company leaders to assess their skills and abilities before they advance to other areas of the plant. It helps to have experience with such skills as welding, maintenance and electrical work.
“Most of our occupations need on-the-job training,” Miller said. “We look for those who have basic maintenance skills or the ability to pick up those skills in a quick period of time.”
The most desired skills aren’t necessarily technical, Miller noted.
“Basically, what we’ve found is that we want people who are going to show up on time and give us a full day’s work. We want someone with a good work ethic and a good attitude,” he said.
“This is a great place to work and hopefully the change in our salary structure will entice people to apply.”
