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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8/30/2021 9:00:00 AM
Cameron Macht
Like the muscles and endurance of the patrons they serve, employment had been building up rapidly at Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers over time. Statewide, after adding more than 200 new locations and more than 4,000 additional jobs since 2010, there were around 700 establishments providing just over 13,000 jobs in 2019. That made it the largest and fastest growing subsector among Other Amusement and Recreation Industries, which also includes Golf Courses and Country Clubs, Skiing Facilities, Marinas, Bowling Centers, and All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries.
However, Fitness Centers and Gyms were one of the industries hit hardest by the pandemic, with nearly two-thirds of employment in the state sliced between the first and second quarters of 2020. The cuts were not as deep in Northwest Minnesota, but still nearly half of the jobs at Fitness Centers were lost in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic. The region was home to 50 Fitness & Recreational Sports Centers in 2020, which was up by 2 compared to 2019, but employment dropped by more than 180 jobs over the quarter and has grown in fits and starts since then along with the virus (see Figure 1).
The good news is that like elastic bands, employment at Fitness Centers in Northwest Minnesota snapped back quickly. In fact, Fitness Centers in the region actually had one more job and a net gain of five new establishments in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2019. While jobs were still down in 2020 due to the pandemic, Fitness Centers have returned to their pre-pandemic shape much more rapidly in Northwest Minnesota than in the rest of the state.
While still relatively low, average wages at Fitness Centers have expanded even more, jumping more than 23% from the first quarter of 2019 to the first quarter of 2021. This may reflect that existing workers are getting more hours, or that the industry is paying higher wages to attract and retain workers. Either scenario is likely to be welcomed as an outcome in the industry, which tends to have part-time hours, lower wages and low entry-level educational requirements. Of the top 10 occupations in demand at Fitness Centers, all can at least be started with a high school diploma or less, with wages ranging between $12 and $20 per hour (see Table 1).
| SOC Occupational Title | Median Wage | Typical Education Required |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise Trainers & Group Fitness Instructors | $15.63 | High School or Less |
| Amusement & Recreation Attendants | $12.10 | High School or Less |
| Receptionists & Information Clerks | $15.16 | High School or Less |
| Childcare Workers | $12.39 | High School or Less |
| Lifeguards & Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $11.89 | High School or Less |
| Coaches & Scouts | $13.67 | High School or Less |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $15.93 | High School or Less |
| Recreation Workers | $12.64 | High School or Less |
| Customer Service Representatives | $18.71 | High School or Less |
| First-line Supervisors of Personal Service & Recreation Workers | $20.70 | High School or Less |
| Source: DEED Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics | ||
For jobseekers interested in working with people and making a positive difference in people's lives while remaining active, a job at a Fitness Center may be the perfect fit. Whether you're looking for work now or thinking ahead, CareerForce offers many job search resources and services you can access from home. You can find contact information for staff at a CareerForce location near you at CareerForceMN.com/locations.
Contact Cameron Macht at 320-441-6596.
