Winter Wonderland
If you're wondering how things are going in your region, this month's blogs utilize new data to cover a wide variety of topics. We look at new Census labor force data in the Twin Cities Metro Area, dive into the changing Retail Trade industry in Central, explore commuting patterns in Northeast, compare current and pre-pandemic job counts in Northwest, admire the contributions of Community & Social Services occupations in Southeast, and herald the fast growing Wind Energy industry in Southwest Minnesota. For more local information, please reach out to your Regional Analyst!
This past month the U.S. Census Bureau released updated estimates through the American Community Survey (ACS). These new 5-year estimates covering 2018 to 2022 are available for all geographies down to the census tract and block group levels. Additionally, the ACS data covers a wide array of vital information, including employment, educational attainment, income and poverty, housing, disability status, veteran status, and more. This month let's take a closer look at the Metro Area's labor force characteristics by age, and how the region's labor force has changed in recent years.
The Retail Trade industry in Central Minnesota has long been a pivotal force in shaping the region's economic landscape, reflecting local consumer trends and serving as a significant source of employment. Over the past few years, this sector has faced numerous challenges and opportunities, navigating shifts in consumer behavior, the rise of e-commerce, and the unique labor market dynamics of Central Minnesota.
The recent data release for the U.S. Census Bureau's OnTheMap program is just the excuse I was looking for to highlight its unique data and useful insights. OnTheMap is an application that allows users to compare and contrast where workers live and work for detailed geographies down to the census block level. Users can create custom geographies for analysis as well as view statistics on worker age, race & ethnicity, industry, earnings, sex, and educational attainment.
As we approach the end of 2023, it is exciting to point out that this is the first year where Northwest Minnesota employment has surpassed pre-pandemic levels. According to DEED's Quarterly Census of Employment & Wages (QCEW) program, job counts in the first quarter of 2023 exceeded first quarter 2020 employment (reflecting employment just before the pandemic) by 1,042 jobs, or 0.5%.
Individuals working in Community & Social Service occupations play a significant role in society, helping in times of hardship and day-to-day life, which can improve the overall well-being and stability of individuals and communities. There are about 4,500 people employed in the Community & Social Service occupational group in Southeast Minnesota, accounting for 1.9% of total employment in the region.
There's no snow on the ground yet, but the wind is still blowing across the prairie in Southwest Minnesota, as it often does thanks to the geography of the region and the prevailing winds. Southwest Minnesota is home to over half of the state's employment in Wind Electric Power Generation. Home to the Buffalo Ridge, a large expanse of rolling hills that runs through Lincoln, Pipestone, Murray, Nobles, and Pipestone, Wind Energy jobs are 8.5 times more concentrated in Southwest than the state as a whole.
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