Central Minnesota is a manufacturing stronghold, with several global manufacturing firms operating there.
The region is especially well known for its expertise in food processing, printing, furniture manufacturing, appliances, machinery and heavy equipment manufacturing.
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11/7/2019 3:00:00 PM
Luke Greiner
That simple gesture offered to the bravest men and women in our country is the least we can do to show appreciation for their sacrifices. Joining the United States Armed Forces is no small feat, and personal and professional pursuits are often sidelined. While active duty servicemembers who meet time-in-service criteria qualify for numerous education benefits like tuition assistance and the Montgomery G.I. Bill, completing higher education is challenging. Training and deployments can derail pursuits for higher education, and a relocation can result in little continuity left for education.
Veterans across the country, including Central Minnesota, are less likely to attain higher education of any type. In Central Minnesota just 18.6 percent of veterans have a bachelor’s degree or higher compared to 23.7 percent for non-veterans. The gap persists, albeit at a smaller level, at the college or associate degree level, where 36 percent of veterans and 37.8 percent of non-veterans have at least some post-secondary education (Figure 1).
However, the data tell an incomplete story of the education levels of our veterans. On one hand it could appear that the challenges of completing education beyond high school has prevented veterans from attaining typical levels of higher education. On the other hand, the lower levels of higher education could indicate that veterans have leveraged their experience to find employment without needing college. Income statistics support the latter possibility, since veterans typically earn almost 20 percent more than non-veterans in Minnesota at the median.
Education benefits from the Montgomery G.I. Bill make the cost of college a non-issue for many veterans, however the time to complete and the benefit of the education might be more important considerations. While reasons for the differences in educational attainment likely vary from veteran to veteran, their dedication and service does not.
If you are a veteran and seeking employment, the following steps can help:
Contact Luke Greiner at 320-308-5378.
