This issue of Trends includes a cover story about careers at medical and diagnostic laboratories. Other stories look at how minority students fared in the job market during and after the recession, compare earnings for minority women to earnings for white women and men in Minnesota, and examine perceptions among high school students about job opportunities in Greater Minnesota. Two other stories break down differences between LAUS, CES and QCEW data.
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Most people know what doctors, nurses and x-ray technicians do, but what about medical and diagnostic laboratory workers? Their roles in the medical field aren’t nearly as well-defined because they work behind the scenes and rarely interact with the public. This issue’s cover story introduces readers to this growing profession.
Retiring baby boomers, relatively low pay and high educational requirements are among the factors contributing to the tight labor market for medical lab professionals in Minnesota. While industry experts say the problem isn't serious yet, they will need to develop a recruitment strategy to compete in an era when many industries – from manufacturing to education – are struggling to fill positions.
Race was a factor in the ability of students to find employment after leaving higher education during and after the Great Recession. American Indians and African Americans, in particular, were hit hard.
Many Greater Minnesota students say they would prefer to remain in their hometowns after graduation, but perceptions about employment opportunities sometimes get in the way
Minority women earn less than white women and men in Minnesota, even when they have the same level of education.
While CES and QCEW track related employment data, they collect the information from slightly different universes.
Changes in the employment mix in Minnesota have narrowed the gap in LAUS and CES employment counts in recent decades.
