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.
Want the freshest data delivered by email? Subscribe to our regional newsletters.
3/31/2021 9:00:00 AM
Erik White
With the amount of data that is now able to be collected and utilized, Information Technology plays a significant role in the modern economy. Harnessing this knowledge is at the heart of the Information Technology field, which offers fast growing and well-paying opportunities.
While Information Technology is not an official industry classification, the sector most closely related is Computer Systems Design and Related Services (NAICS 5415. With 72 firms providing 461 jobs, the industry is rapidly growing in Northwest Minnesota, expanding by 70.1% since 2015 and more than tripling its employment over the last 10 years. In addition, average annual wages for the sector are $81,172, which is nearly double the average annual wage across all industries in the region. However, it's still a relatively small industry, with Northwest Minnesota accounting for only 1.3% of jobs in that industry sector within the state of Minnesota, and with lower wages but faster growth (see Table 1).
|
2019 Annual |
2015-2019 Change in Jobs |
2009-2019 Change in Jobs |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Number of Firms |
Number of Employees |
Total Payroll |
Avg. Annual Wage |
Number |
Percent |
Number |
Percent |
|
| Northwest | 72 | 461 | $37,498,997 | $81,172 | +190 | +70.1% | +313 | +211.5% |
| Minnesota | 6,064 | 36,592 | $4,179,297,064 | $114,192 | +2,730 | +8.1% | +8,953 | +32.4% |
| Source: DEED's Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) | ||||||||
But looking just at that sector paints an incomplete picture of demand, since every sector of the economy utilizes Information Technology. Because of that, it's more helpful to look at occupational data, which shows a larger number of opportunities in this growing and well-paying career path.
Wages range from $23 to nearly $60 an hour for Information Technology occupations in Northwest Minnesota, with education requirements ranging from vocational training to bachelor's degrees. All 10 computer occupations are projected to need either new workers or replacements for existing workers who retire or leave over the next 10 years, with the highest demand for Computer User Support Specialists, Software Developers, and Computer Systems Analysts. The projected number of total hires show thousands of openings for all Information Technology occupations in the region, including labor market exit openings and transfer occupation openings (Table 2).
| Occupation | Estimated Regional Employment | Median Hourly Wage | 2018-2028 Total Hires | Education Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer User Support Specialists | 550 | $23.32 | +799 | Vocational |
| Software Developers | 330 | $40.22 | +491 | Bachelor's |
| Computer Systems Analysts | 240 | $31.84 | +429 | Bachelor's |
| Computer Network Architects | 50 | $57.83 | +269 | Bachelor's |
| Network & Computer Systems Administrators | 320 | $33.55 | +269 | Bachelor's |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | 210 | $29.05 | +161 | Associate's |
| Web Developers & Digital Interface Designers | 80 | $31.35 | +141 | Associate's |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | 110 | $34.73 | +140 | Bachelor's |
| Database Administrators and Architects | 90 | $41.05 | +85 | Bachelor's |
| Computer Programmers | 120 | $43.49 | +78 | Bachelor's |
| Source: DEED's Occupational Employment Statistics, Employment Outlook, and Education Requirements for Occupations | ||||
Information Technology has been growing in Northwest Minnesota and is projected to continue gaining jobs in the future. Along with this growth potential, these occupations are very high paying in comparison to most jobs in the region, but do require additional education and training. Maybe IT is right for you!
April 2021 is Tech Month in Minnesota. Learn more at CareerForceMN.com/TechMonth.
Contact Erik White.
