Minnesota Manufacturing Week Oct. 1-7 Highlights State’s Largest Industry

For Immediate Release
Oct. 2, 2017

Contact: Shane Delaney, 651-259-7236
 shane.m.delaney@state.mn.us

Minnesota Manufacturing Week Highlights State’s Largest Industry

~Runs Oct. 1-7; Sector supports 318,000 jobs;
Contributes $48.2B to economy~

ST. PAUL – To highlight the importance of manufacturing, Governor Mark Dayton today issued a proclamation declaring the week of October 1-7, 2017 to be Minnesota Manufacturing Week.

Manufacturing is the state’s largest industry by gross domestic product (GDP). It supports 318,000 Minnesota jobs, while contributing $48.2 billion to the state’s economy. This output represents 16 percent of Minnesota’s private gross domestic product. Manufacturing accounted for about $18 billion in state exports in 2016.

Minnesota Manufacturing Week acknowledges and honors the important role manufacturers and their workers play in state’s economy. Plant tours of manufacturing facilities around the state, speakers, and educational activities are planned for this week and throughout the month.

“We want people to be aware of the dynamic career opportunities that exist in manufacturing across the state – and the family-sustaining wages they pay,” said DEED Commissioner Shawntera Hardy. “DEED also partners with businesses and educational institutions to ensure that manufacturers can find the skilled workers they need to thrive and to grow their businesses.”

Manufacturing accounts for one in nine jobs in the state. When you add in jobs in other industries that are dependent on manufacturing, each manufacturing job generates another 2.21 jobs in other segments of the economy.

DEED joins the manufacturing industry collaborative “Dream It. Do It. Minnesota” in sponsoring Minnesota Manufacturers Week. A list of tours available can be found here. Go to the DEED website for more details about Minnesota Manufacturing Week.

Facts about Manufacturing in Minnesota

• Close to 318,000 people work in manufacturing in Minnesota. Manufacturing employment has increased 9 percent between 2010 and 2016.
• Salaries in the sector are significantly higher than most other industries in the state because many manufacturing jobs require high-tech skills to operate advanced technology and computer-controlled equipment. The average manufacturing position in the state paid $63,794 a year in 2016. This is about $9,500 (or 17 percent) more than the typical job in Minnesota.
• Manufacturing contributed $48.2 billion to Minnesota’s economic in 2016, and accounts for 16 percent of Minnesota’s private gross domestic product. It is the largest industry sector in the state in terms of GDP. Manufacturing accounted for about $18 billion in state exports in 2016.
• There are more than 8,200 manufacturing establishments in Minnesota. They produce products across a broad range of industries that include, to name a few, aerospace, agriculture and farm machinery, food production, sensors and robotics, construction components, HVAC technology and medical devices.
• Many of Minnesota’s Fortune 500 companies are manufacturers, including 3M, General Mills, Land O’Lakes, Ecolab, Hormel Foods, Mosaic and St. Jude Medical.
  

DEED is the state’s principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development. For more details about the agency and its services, visit the DEED website or follow DEED on Twitter.

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Upon request, the information in this news release can be made available in alternative
formats for people with disabilities by contacting the DEED Communications Office at 651-259-7161.

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Communications Office
Phone 651-259-7149 or 1-800-657-3858 ∙ TTY 1-800-657-3973
http://mn.gov/deed
An equal opportunity employer and service provider.