When it comes to what young people in Greater Minnesota think about their communities and local economic opportunities, perceptions matter.

Many Greater Minnesota students say they would prefer to remain in their hometowns post-graduation, if they can find a ‘good paying job,’ but perceptions about employment opportunities sometimes get in the way.

The challenge for rural communities and business is educating students and parents about the real opportunities that exist locally.

Regional analyst Luke Greiner uses survey data from 2,000 10th-grade students who attended the Southwest Minnesota Career Expo in October 2017, for insight into the perceptions of the next generation of workers.

The survey said:

1. 61 percent indicated they plan to go to a university.
2. Almost one in 12 said they plan to go into the military, but statistically only about one out of 100 actually do.
3. Only 4 percent planned to join the workforce right after high school, yet data show that 26 percent actually do.

With 2½ years of high school remaining at the time of the survey, did they stay the course? Read Tapping Homegrown Talent in Minnesota Economic Trends.

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MN FutureWork is produced by the Workforce Development Department of Minnesota State.