Local Look blogs: Regional Renovations

Locla Look

Each month, DEED's Regional Analysis & Outreach unit produces a series of blogs exploring local labor market information. Please contact your regional analyst for more information.  

Twin Cities Metro: At 2.3 percent, the unemployment rate in the Twin Cities is at its lowest point since December of 1999. One major consequence of a tight labor market is wage growth. After a decade of little to no growth, average weekly wages in the Twin Cities rose by 6.2 percent (inflation-adjusted) between the second quarters of 2014 and 2017.

Central MinnesotaStrong employment gains in nonresidential construction is a response of the growing economy. Since bottoming out in 2010, Central Minnesota's economy has added jobs faster than every region of the state except the Twin Cities, and the region's nonresidential construction industry is booming as a result

Northeast Minnesota: Recently there has been anecdotal evidence of the city of Duluth and Northeast Minnesota attracting younger professionals because of the outdoor recreation and job opportunities available. The region's population has seen notable gains of 25 to 34 year olds, with many finding jobs in health care and social assistance and other industries.

Northwest Minnesota: Workers are in high demand in Northwest Minnesota - and have been for a while. DEED's Job Vacancy Survey recently reported over 10,700 job openings in the region, the highest number recorded since the survey started in 2001. The consistent demand for workers is also leading to better wages in Northwest Minnesota, where the median wage offer rose to $13.04 per hour in 2017.

Southeast Minnesota: In many cases, post-secondary education pays off with higher wages, but post-secondary education is not always required to get a high-paying job, nor does it guarantee one. Post-secondary education is also often accompanied by student loan debt. For those in Southeast Minnesota, many part-time vacancies can provide a second source of income to help make monthly school loan payments.

Southwest MinnesotaAfter experiencing a loss of 3,941 people since 2010, Southwest Minnesota is now home to 391,702 residents. Though the 23-county planning region enjoyed a natural increase – more births than deaths – of 5,410 people, Southwest Minnesota suffered a net out-migration of 12,330 people who left to live elsewhere. Lost in the shadow of that outflow, however, was the region's international net in-migration of 2,993 new foreign-born Minnesotans, which helped offset some domestic losses.