Grants for programs that assist Minnesotans of color, women, youth and people with disabilities have helped nearly 1,500 businesses and assist almost 50,000 career seekers and youth with employment, education and support services across the state, according to a new report released by DEED.

“The investments made to improve economic equity are starting to have a positive impact in our state,” said Governor Tim Walz. “However, our work in this area is far from over. The One Minnesota Council on Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity will work with DEED to continue this effort, as well as find new ways to address this challenge.”

The report outlines the work that resulted from passage of the Equity Article, a one-year, $35 million supplemental package of strategic investments that was passed by the Legislature in 2016. In 2017, the Legislature continued most of this funding, awarding an additional $23.9 million to equity-related programs for a total of $58.9 million.

The grants provide funding for education, training and support services needed to overcome employment barriers, and to build the capacity of organizations to better serve participants. The grants also provide small business development services aimed at increasing access to capital, job creation and technical assistance.

Going Fragrance-Free?

Fragrance sensitivity issues are now a more commonly discussed topic in the workplace, and many employers have adopted a ban on fragrances in the workplace.

Health care environments, in particular, are at the forefront of this movement. Fragrances can be detrimental to those with allergies, asthma or other respiratory disorders and those who suffer from migraines. In addition, some janitorial services use fragrance-free products when cleaning offices.

If your business is considering developing a policy, you could use the fragrance-free policy template, developed by the American Lung Association, as a step in that direction.

A Nose for Employment in Perfume Manufacturing

Checking the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages data in Minnesota, 68 businesses in the 3256 NAICS subsector provided 2,049 jobs in the second quarter of 2018, with annual average wages of $68,380 – and that’s pretty high.

The NAICS code – North American Industry Classification System – for perfume manufacturing is 325620, which also includes “toilet preparations.” It is in the larger 3256 industry subsector, which includes “Soap, Cleaning Compound, and Toilet Preparation Manufacturing.”

Jobs have been growing rapidly in this industry subsector, according to Cameron Macht, Regional Analysis and Outreach Manager for DEED’s Labor Market Information Office. Minnesota’s soap, cleaning compound, and toilet preparation manufacturing employers added 223 net new jobs from 2013-2018, a 12.2 percent increase.