DEED Roundup -- Dec 22, 2014

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December 22, 2014

DEED in the News

Officials: Unemployment is the Lowest It's Been Since May 2001
CBS Minnesota-12/18/14
State officials say Minnesota employers added more than 6,000 jobs last month and that the state’s unemployment rate is now the lowest it’s been in more than a decade.

Software Engineer in 18 Weeks? Twin Cities Tech Groups Launch Training
MPR-12/15/14
A Twin Cities-based tech company will launch a school to train software engineers to fill the growing demand for high-tech workers in the state. Prime Digital Academy is an 18-week program in HTML, JavaScript and other programming languages. Public partners include the city of Minneapolis, state of Minnesota and Creating IT Futures Association.

Mankato-North Mankato Reaches Another Milestone
Southernminn.com-12/18/14
Jobs in the Mankato-North Mankato Metropolitan Statistical Area reached another milestone hitting 58,097 jobs, per DEED Current Employment Statistics for November. This far surpasses October's milestone month: The MSA reached more than 57,000 jobs for the first time on record.

Report: Bright Future for Renewable Energy in Minnesota
Midwest Energy News-12/18/14
A new report from the Wind Energy Foundation suggests Minnesota could supply more than 50 percent of its power needs through renewable energy by 2030 while creating more jobs and meeting federal carbon targets. Minnesota has long been a player in sustainability, with $11 billion having been invested from 2004 to 2013, according to a DEED study.

Did You Know?

The Livability Index: The 35 Best U.S. Cities for People 35 and Under from vocativ finds Minneapolis at no. 6 and St. Paul no. 8. 

Biker by Colby Lake
Photo: Judy Parker, DEED

Recent Press Releases

State Employers Add 6,600 Jobs in November
Minnesota employers added 6,600 jobs in November, according to seasonally adjusted figures released by DEED. The state has gained 51,065 jobs in the past year, including more than 35,000 jobs in the past four months.

Exports Reach record $5.5B in 3rd Qtr
Minn exports of manufactured, agricultural and mining products reached a record $5.5B in the 3rd quarter, a 5.8 percent increase from the same period a year ago, according to DEED. U.S. exports during the quarter were up 4.2 percent. The state’s largest export region was North America.

Recent Blog Posts

Help wanted

DEED and the Minn Department of Human Services are seeking federal funding to help more than 4,000 long-term unemployed Minnesotans. Read more.

Serving Our Clients

Rainy day savings

It's never too early to start planning your personal or family budget for 2015. Are you thinking about going back to school or retraining for a new career? Do you have an emergency stash? Although Minnesota is among the most financially literate states, there's always room to improve, and WorkForce Centers can be a part of your financial improvement plan. This year, 125 individuals attended financial literacy or budgeting workshops offered at nine WorkForce Centers: Hennepin North, St. Paul and North St. Paul in Ramsey County, Mora, Cambridge, Rochester, and Forest Lake, Woodbury and Cottage Grove in Washington County. Topics ranged from budgeting to financial fitness and effectively managing your finances. Search for workshops and training here.