Local Look blogs - Regional Collaboration

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: The data is clear, and the trend is eye-opening: the Twin Cities Metro Area’s population is getting older. Since the turn of the century, the Metro Area has gained about 457,000 people, growing by 17.3 percent. Broken down, however, it is striking that all the age cohorts under 55 years witnessed slower growth than 17.3 percent, while every age cohort over 55 years grew much faster. In fact, the number of people between 55 and 64 years expanded by 99.9 percent between 2000 and 2018, a rate about six times faster than total population growth.

CENTRAL MINNESOTA: The time is right for education institutions to embrace local manufacturing partners. Unemployment rates are incredibly low, and record numbers of job openings are making it difficult for any business to find workers, but particularly difficult for an industry that students might not be aware of or interested in. Manufacturing is the second largest employing industry in Central Minnesota, and provides higher than average wages, yet many residents – including students – are unaware of the variety of manufacturing occupations.

NORTHEAST MINNESOTA: Faced with a tight labor market and with many employers having difficulty hiring new workers, the city of Duluth hosted the first Northeast Minnesota Apprenticeship Summit on November 15, 2019 to invite educators and community leaders to learn more about the union trades and the need for skilled craftspeople in the Arrowhead.

NORTHWEST MINNESOTA: Throughout its history, CareerForce partner Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program (RMCEP) has assisted thousands of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds acquire the skills and training necessary to thrive in the regional economy and elsewhere.  While training and employment service is RMCEP’s primary mission, their clients often have barriers to joining the regional labor force that must also be addressed in the process.  Such workforce barriers as childcare availability, language differences, or a lack of transportation are frustrating realities for many jobseekers.

SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA: With a current ratio of just six job seekers for every 10 open positions in Southeast Minnesota, employers are desperately looking for more workers. CareerForce is focused on reaching out to several populations characterized by low labor force participation rates, high unemployment rates, or both.  This has included people of color, recent immigrants, people with disabilities, and ex-offenders. Another potential undertapped talent pool: our vibrant youth population.

SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA: The Southwest Minnesota CareerForce and partners held a December event for employers focused on the benefits of hiring employees with a disability.  Employers and partners gathered to hear up-to-date information on why they should consider this talent pool and walked away with first-hand information on how to access these employees and how to navigate any potential accommodations.