This edition of Minnesota Economic Trends includes articles that introduce a new data tool to help students and counselors make informed high school course choices, summarize updated poverty rate measures, compare regional industry and occupational employment trends, describe Minnesota’s outdoor recreation industry and analyze employment in the energy industry.
To maximize the benefits of participation in Career and Technical Education (CTE) high school courses, students must transition into employment opportunities relevant to their chosen career pathway or combine their initial training with a postsecondary credential. A new tool helps students and counselors make informed course choices by exploring the earnings, leading industries of employment, and postsecondary education paths taken by students with similar course-taking histories. It can also help program planners evaluate the alignment of their programs with business needs in their region.
Updated American Community Survey data on poverty in 2023 indicate that Minnesota has among the lowest poverty rates in the nation overall and for a number of key groups, including families and children. However, these data also point to areas of concern for the state, specifically poverty rates for Black or African American, American Indian and Hispanic or Latino Minnesotans.
In addition to the statewide long-term projections produced every two years, DEED also creates more detailed employment forecasts for the six planning regions in Minnesota. Each region has its own population and labor force trends, unique industry mixes, and past employment trends that impact future employment growth. This article compares regional industry and occupational employment trends, highlighting both shared trajectories as well as areas of divergence. Based on the factors listed above and others, Central Minnesota and the Twin Cities Metro Area are poised for higher-than-average growth. Southeast and Northwest Minnesota are expected to grow slightly below the state average and Northeast and Southwest Minnesota are projected to grow relatively slower over the next decade.
Minnesota's outdoor recreation economy thrives throughout the year, with winter activities significantly contributing to the state's success. From snowmobiling and cross-country skiing to ice fishing across the state's countless lakes, winter recreation has become an essential part of Minnesota's outdoor offerings. This four-season approach to outdoor recreation, with substantial winter impacts, helps Minnesota maintain a more consistent year-round tourism economy compared to states that rely primarily on warm-weather activities. Winter recreation serves as a vital economic driver, transforming what could be a seasonal lull into a thriving period of tourism and outdoor activity for residents and visitors.
