Student Career Interests, Labor Force Trends, and Key Industries

This issue takes a quick tour of Minnesota’s regions, sharing fresh insights on student plans, generational breakdowns, female labor force participation, job market trends, and the importance and prevalence of gas stations in small towns. For more information, please reach out to your regional analyst.

Central Minnesota Blog

Understanding what careers students are interested in can help educators, workforce partners and employers better prepare for the future workforce. Recent survey responses from students across Minnesota – including those in Central Minnesota – provide insight into the types of career fields young people are considering.

Twin Cities Metro Blog

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), the Seven-County Twin Cities Metro Area had a population of 3.2 million people in 2024. At the same time, data from Quarterly Workforce Indicators (QWI) shows that the region had 1.8 million jobs. Zooming in on both sets of data reveals a complex and multigenerational mix of people and workers in the region.

Northeast Minnesota Blog

Compared to pre-COVID times, the female labor force participation rate in the region declined 1%, about half the rate the statewide rate declined by. At the same time, the regional unemployment rate for women held steady as the statewide rate for women increased by three tenths of a percent. Women accounted for about 72,000 covered jobs at employer establishments across all industries. This number is equivalent to almost exactly half of the covered employment in the region. That share is virtually the same as it was a decade ago, but many sectors that were traditionally male dominated have started to see more women join their ranks.

Northwest Minnesota Blog

According to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-Year estimates, an estimated 230,115 women age 16 and over live in Northwest Minnesota. Nearly 59% are in the labor force — including those who are unemployed or self-employed — compared to 62.5% for the overall population. Women also have a lower unemployment rate (3.9%) than the overall regional average (4.4%).

Southeast Minnesota Blog

According to our long-term employment projections, Southeast Minnesota is expected to add 12,280 net new jobs between 2022 and 2032. But new job creation is only part of the picture. When you factor in workers retiring and people shifting between occupations, the number of projected openings is much higher. This blog walks through projected demand at each education level using two lenses: new job creation, which shows where the economy is growing, and total hires, which captures the full scope of hiring activity including retirements and occupational transfers.

Southwest Minnesota Blog

In Southwest Minnesota, Gasoline Stations are more than just a place to fill up the tank; they are also one of the most common and essential businesses in the region's small-town economies. Drive through nearly any community across the region and you will likely see a gas station at the entrance to town or along the main highway. In fact, gas stations are one of the few types of businesses that exist in almost every community, regardless of population size, making them a critical part of the local retail landscape.

SPRING & SUMMER 2026 LMI TRAINING SESSIONS

Our regional analysis team has scheduled a series of training sessions for Spring and Summer 2026, running from March through June and covering topics ranging from the shifting labor market to career exploration tools to specific industry profiles. All of these sessions are virtual, so feel free to sign up for whatever session works best with your schedule and interests!

Employer Experience Survey: February 2026 Summary Results Is hiring workers easier or harder than it was a year ago for Minnesota employers? Are employers increasing their utilization of artificial intelligence and if so, in what ways? Employer services staff responses to a February 2026 survey offer answers to those questions and others. View summary results here. Look for more detailed results and analysis in an article to be posted soon in Minnesota Economic Trends. https://careerforce.mn.gov/careerforce-blog/employer-services-staff-perceptions-lingering-workforce-shortage-issues-increasing

Each month, DEED's Regional Analysis & Outreach unit produces a series of blogs exploring local labor market information. Please reach out to your regional analyst if you or your staff would be interested in having a customized LMI training session. We would be happy to accommodate your training requests, either on LMI Data Tools or local economic conditions!