DEEDÂ Examines: Where are the Job Seekers?
This week, DEED released a new article looking at why some employers report difficulty finding workers.
Contact: Jen Gates 651-358-0300
St. Paul - This week, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) released a new article that examines the question many Minnesota employers are asking right now: Where are the job seekers? Employers in industries such as Health Care, Hospitality, Retail and Food Service are desperate for staff at a time when the statewide unemployment rate is at 7.4%.
While the August unemployment rate is lower than it has been the last few months, it is still 4.5 points higher than in March 2020. This 7.4% unemployment rate in Minnesota represents over 230,000 unemployed workers – over two-and-a-half times the number of active job seekers in March 2020.
"COVID-19 has brought uncertainty to our economy that is causing many workers who have lost their jobs to hold tight on applying for new ones," said DEED Commissioner Steve Grove. "At DEED, our top priority is supporting the hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans who have lost work or had to change careers during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are looking for a job, there are good paying jobs available in Minnesota now."
The authors of the article in the September issue of Minnesota Economic Trends gave three possible reasons why:
- Workers who are waiting to be called back to their old job might not be interested in looking for something else.
- Health and safety concerns related to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic may be keeping workers out of the workforce. Older workers, people who work in or live with vulnerable populations, as well as hospitality, retail, education, health care and social assistance workers may be waiting to return until they feel safer.
- Some workers may have been waiting to see if an additional stimulus check or enhancement to unemployment benefits were going to be implemented.
Find the list of the top 30 in demand jobs.
DEED is the state's principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development. For more details about the agency and its services, visit the DEED website or follow us on Twitter.
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