The presence of such industry powerhouses as Polaris, Arctic Cat and New Flyer make Northwest Minnesota a hub of transportation equipment manufacturing.
From wheat and potatoes to soybeans and sugar beets, the region is a major producer and processor of food staples and specialty agricultural products.
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4/17/2017 12:04:56 PM
Chet Bodin
Part 1 of Hard Hats Ahead looked at the seasonal nature and annual fluctuations of the construction industry in Northwest Minnesota. With an annual average of about 10,800 jobs at about 2,100 establishments in 2015, construction was the eighth largest industry, but also had the second largest number of employers, behind retail trade. Construction is projected to be both the third fastest and third largest growing sector in Northwest Minnesota over the next decade. Only health care and social assistance rank ahead in both categories of growth.
Though the work will remain seasonal, this projected growth should lead to steady demand for new workers in the next 10 years. According to DEED’s Employment Outlook tool, all but one construction occupation is expected to see new job growth in the region during the decade, including six occupations projected to grow more than 10 percent (Table 1):
All of these occupations pay relatively high wages. All but one – construction laborers – have higher median hourly wages than the total of all occupations in the region, and 10 of the 14 jobs earn more than $20 an hour at the median.
Despite the high wages, educational requirements for most of these jobs were relatively low – most can be gained with a high school diploma and on-the-job training. Some benefit from vocational training or apprenticeships, such as first-line supervisors, masons, carpenters, electricians and plumbers, but most skills are learned on-the-job (Table 2).
For more on construction careers that are building up in Northwest Minnesota, contact Chet Bodin at chet.bodin@state.mn.us.
