Local Look blogs: Putting LMI Into Action

Locla Look

NEW - 2018 LMI TRAINING SESSIONS - May & June

DEED's Regional Analysts are hosting a series of hands-on training sessions across the state that will help attendees learn where to find and how to use DEED's labor market information tools. Registration for the workshops is now open - simply click on the link for the class you want to attend and fill out the registration form!

  

Twin Cities MetroAnchoring the western side of the Seven-County Metro Area, Carver County can be overshadowed by its neighbors to the east: Hennepin being the largest county in Minnesota, and Scott being the fastest-growing county in Minnesota. Carver County, however, has a few surprises of its own to showcase. 

Central MinnesotaRecord numbers of job openings and slower labor force growth delivered the fourth lowest unemployment rate in Central Minnesota since 1990. At 4.0 percent in 2017, the region has a slightly higher rate than the state, but still remains lower than the last period of economic expansion

Northeast MinnesotaNewly released Job Vacancy data shows a drop in the number of job openings for the 4th quarter of 2017 in the Arrowhead from the high-water mark of 9,762 posted earlier in the 2nd quarter. However, the 5,390 job vacancies continue a trend where the region has as many job openings as jobseekers, an indication of a tight labor market.

Northwest Minnesota: In 2018, the financial website WalletHub concluded that Minnesota is the best state for women to live and work, citing factors such as educational attainment, business ownership and rate of poverty. But despite the welcome accolades, a persistent gender pay gap exists across the state.

Southeast Minnesota: With the current jobseeker-per-vacancy ratio for Southeast Minnesota resting at 0.6 to 1 – meaning for every ten job vacancies there are only six unemployed individuals in the region – it is common to hear from many employers that they are frustrated with the struggle they are facing in finding employees to fill their openings. One strategy that some of these employers are utilizing to try and attract new talent to their workforce is by increasing wages – a logical response to this workforce dilemma.

Southwest MinnesotaAs part of regional planning efforts, local Workforce Investment Boards have been taking a much closer look at the racial and ethnic diversity of their regions. This includes analysis of the region's changing demographics, the importance of immigration, and industry employment trends. The 23-county Southwest Minnesota planning region has seen steady employment growth in recent years, finally appearing to regain all of the jobs lost during the recession.