 DEED was among the participants at the Job Opportunity Fair last Monday at the Stassen Building in St. Paul. The fair provided minority members, women, veterans and people who are disabled an opportunity to directly meet with procurement professionals in state government to market their businesses. Roughly 300 businesses were represented at the fair, exceeding the 240 that had pre-registered and far exceeding organizers' expectations.
Construction Adds 1,900 Jobs in January
Finance and Commerce-3/11/16
Minnesota construction companies added 1,900 jobs in January — enough to finally recoup thousands of positions shed during the thick of the recession, according to DEED data released last Thursday. An early spring may further boost the industry. “I think there’s good, positive signs for continued strength there,” said DEED's Steve Hine.
AARP recently named Minnesota the best state in the country to retire in. The group cited the state's housing, health care and services for older residents.
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Jobless Rate Steady at 3.7 Percent
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Minnesota held steady at 3.7 percent in January, according to figures released last week by DEED. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.9 percent in January.
DEED Upgrades Employment Tool
The state’s Graduate Employment Outcomes online tool has been enhanced to display job and earnings of graduates by program at 141 higher education institutions in Minnesota. The main goal of the tool is to help students make informed choices about which fields of study in Minnesota offer the best opportunities for jobs and good wages.
Cirrus Announces Duluth Expansion
Aircraft manufacturer Cirrus is building a $12.7 million painting and finishing facility that will bring 150 new jobs to Duluth. Company officials plan to build the 68,000-square-foot facility in the Duluth Airport Industrial Park. DEED is supporting the project with a $4 million loan from the Minnesota Investment Fund.
DEED Awards Job Training Funding
DEED awarded a $49,570 grant from the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Program to train 40 Minnesota workers on a new blasting and painting virtual learning process. The grant will fund entry-level training for employees of Swanson & Youngdale of Minneapolis and Rainbow Inc. of New Hope.
The steel industry slowdown has taken a toll in northern Minnesota, with more than 2,000 miners losing their jobs on the Iron Range. Some of those workers will find opportunities at the 18th annual Iron Range Job Fair at the Miners Memorial Building in Virginia on Friday. Representatives from 65 companies and higher education institutions will be on hand to talk with prospects. Sessions on interviewing, resumes and what to wear to an interview also are planned.
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