Occupations in Demand
Having a comprehensive understanding of Occupations in Demand that considers current job vacancies, the number and types of jobs people have been laid off from, the prevalence of certain occupations in each region, longer term demand projections, and regional differences in labor market supply and demand is critical to helping employers, job seekers, career counselors and educators during economic recovery and growth. A new set of Occupations in Demand was published in July 2023, reflecting changing demand from employers in the region. For more local information, reach out to your Regional Analyst!
Despite rapid and broad changes in the economy and labor market following the COVID-19 pandemic, most occupational changes have so far been minimal. Though people working in many occupations are now able to work from home and serve customers remotely, the actual function of most jobs has remained unchanged. Yet long-term changes in our economy will continue to shape the labor market for decades and interpreting job growth and job demand is imperative to understand for proper planning.
With thousands of current vacancies and projected future openings, Home Health & Personal Care Aides have recently been ranked as the Seven-County Twin Cities Metro Area's most in-demand occupation. This is according to DEED's Occupations in Demand (OID) tool. Other occupations at the top include Registered Nurses, Retail Salespersons, Cashiers, and Customer Service Representatives. In all, DEED's OID tool reveals 300 specific occupations with high or very high demand in the region.
After the passing of the so-called "Surly Bill" in 2011, the Beverage Manufacturing industry took flight throughout Minnesota, and especially in Northeast. While there was Beverage Manufacturing employment prior to the passage of the bill, it did not rise above 42 jobs between 2000 and 2013. However, after 2015, the number of jobs in the industry rose rapidly.
At the end of 2022, Northwest Minnesota was within just 1,671 jobs, or less than three-quarters of a percent, from our pre-pandemic 2019 employment level. Concurrently, the 2022 Job Vacancy Survey showed a record 20,409 available jobs in the region. One takeaway from those two pieces of data: if all these vacant jobs were filled, Northwest's employment would far exceed pre-pandemic levels.
Many Minnesotans joke that Minnesota has two seasons: winter and construction. The construction season in Minnesota is a vital period for infrastructure development, building renovations, and various other construction projects. It serves as an opportunity for cities and residents to enhance their infrastructure, accommodate growth, and improve the overall quality of life.
As shown by the most recent Job Vacancy Survey and the monthly Job Openings & Labor Turnover Survey, tens of thousands of Minnesota employers are looking for workers. There are around 200,000 job vacancies across the state, and more than 14,000 openings in Southwest Minnesota. Many employers with job openings are finding it difficult to locate and hire new workers.
2023 Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference -
New London MN - Thursday, Sept. 14 - Friday, Sept. 15
Entrepreneurs will help create the future of Minnesota. For the fifth year, the Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities conference will bring together community champions, entrepreneurship enablers, economic development professionals, entrepreneurs and business leaders. To register for the conference, please use this link.
The conference is being led by University of Minnesota Extension Department of Community Development and joined by the Minnesota Small Business Development Centers, Rethos, Launch Minnesota, Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development, and other entrepreneurship supporting organizations.
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