Every quarter, the Labor Market Information (LMI) Office of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) publishes a slate of research articles that offer insights into important labor market trends.

The latest quarterly issue of Minnesota Economic Trends includes articles that: provide a statistical snapshot of the labor force experience of Minnesotans with disabilities; measure outcomes for post-secondary instructional programs by median annual wages and net income seven years after graduation; explore whether the post-recession employment recovery improved racial and ethnic wage equity; and more. Select a title below to view the full article.

Minnesota's Drive For 5 Initiative

DEED launched the Drive for 5 Initiative on Wednesday to create sector partnerships across the state and help fill in-demand positions in technology, the trades, caring professions, manufacturing, and education.

The Labor Force Experience of Minnesotans with Disabilities

Minnesotans with one or more disability are more than twice as likely to be unemployed as those without a disability. October is Disability Employment Awareness Month in Minnesota, a time to raise awareness about employment resources available to people with disabilities and to employers seeking to create inclusive workplaces. This article provides a statistical snapshot of the labor force experience of Minnesotans with disabilities.

Did the Post-Recession Recovery Improve Racial Wage Equity?

How many Twin Cities area residents laid off during the Pandemic Recession were able to meet or exceed their pre-pandemic wages by the end of 2022, when inflation is taken into account? This article examines that question, with a breakout by age, race/ethnicity and educational attainment, to determine how different groups fared during the recent economic recovery. It also examines the role of occupational segregation as a factor driving racial/ethnic earnings disparities.

Disparities in Reemployment After the Pandemic Recession Based on Worker Characteristics

Did greater formal educational attainment have an impact on how quickly people were able to return to work after being laid off during the Pandemic Recession? This article analyzes the role of formal education, race/ethnicity, place of residence, quality of jobs held and other factors in sheltering people from long periods of unemployment and new job loss after the recession. This information will help workforce development program providers target reemployment services to Minnesotans who need them most.

Popular or Pragmatic Part 2: The Long View

This article looks at postsecondary instructional program outcomes based on median wage and estimated net income versus expenses, seven years post-graduation. The article describes how students, parents/guardians, educators, career counselors and others can utilize data in an interactive tool developed by DEED's Labor Market Information office to compare outcomes by instructional program.

Unveiling the Complexities of Minnesota's Wage Growth

This article examines the pure wage effect and composition effect as contributors to Aggregate Average Hourly Wage growth, quantifies the impact of different determinants on the composition effect, and analyzes their influence before, during, and after the Pandemic Recession, focusing on different categories of workers based on their employment history and attachment status. Understanding these dynamics can help policymakers and analysts seeking to gauge the health of the labor market and devise appropriate strategies for economic recovery and stability.

You can see an archive of past Minnesota Economic Trends articles going back to 1993 on the DEED website.