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September 2014 - Minnesota Economic Trends

The cover story in the September issue of Trends magazine takes an in-depth look at careers in precision metal manufacturing, focusing on three people who have worked in the industry – a punch press operator, a welder and a sheet metal worker. Precision metal manufacturing is a growing industry in Minnesota with a high demand for workers with the right skills. The median salary in the field is $40,352.

Other stories in this issue look at which groups will benefit the most from the state’s new minimum wage law, examine which fields offer the best pay and job opportunities based on data from DEED’s new Graduate Employment Outcomes tool, dig deeper into Job Vacancy Survey data, and look at job growth in the STEM sector.

Download the full PDF of this issue or select the links below to view individual stories.

Letter from the Editor

The three people featured in this issue's cover story by DEED intern Lexi Boyer highlight the rewards of jobs in precision metal manufacturing.

Minnesota's STEM Workforce

STEM jobs are growing faster than jobs overall in Minnesota and offer salaries that are much higher than the average for all industries in the state.

Helping Students Make Educational Choices

DEED’s new Graduate Employment Outcomes tool is providing valuable guidance to students who want to learn which fields offer the best pay and job opportunities.

Working With Your Hands and Mind

Precision metal manufacturing is a growing field in Minnesota, with plenty of job openings expected in the coming years.

Adding Up the Effects of the New Minimum Wage

Women, most minority racial groups, people with disabilities and residents in Greater Minnesota stand to benefit the most from a new law that will raise the state’s minimum wage to $9.50 an hour by August 2016.

What the Job Vacancy Survey Tells Us about the Labor Market

A closer look at the 2013 fourth-quarter Job Vacancy Survey indicates the labor market recovery has been inconsistent across the state.

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