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TRI-COUNTY LABOR FORCE: THE GOOD NEWS
The St. Cloud area's flourishing
economy has created an impressively
steady unemployment rate--currently at
5.3%. According to local area
unemployment statistics, the
unemployment rate for the three area
counties--Stearns, Sherburne, and
Benton--is generally one or two
percentage points below the nation's and
just slightly above Minnesota's overall
unemployment rate. That's good news.
People in our area--for the most
part--are working.
Unemployment Statistics - May-June 2008
|
City |
Labor Force |
Unemployment Rate |
|
St.
Cloud - MSA |
107,859 |
5.3% |
|
Stearns
County |
85,653 |
5.0% |
|
Benton
County |
23,474 |
5.6% |
|
Sherburne County |
49,297 |
5.7% |
|
State of
Minnesota |
2,829,583 |
5.3% |
St. Cloud is the
third largest city in Minnesota
outside the 7-County Twin Cities
Metropolitan Area, behind Rochester
and Duluth. Total population in the
St. Cloud MSA in 2006 was 183,217
people, a 9.5% increase since 2000.
Clearly, when
considering expanding or relocating
a business, companies want to locate
where the people are--both customers
and employees. Indeed, Central
Minnesota certainly fits that bill.
St. Cloud Area: Minnesota's
Manufacturing Engine
Over 90% of Minnesota's growth in the
manufacturing is happening right here in
Central Minnesota. To learn more, view
the
Presentation and Report Prepared by DEED
Regional Labor Market Analyst Cameron
Macht.
Total Population in the St. Cloud MSA
|
Year |
Population |
Annual Percent Change |
|
1930 |
77,177 |
10.5% |
|
1940 |
83,306 |
7.9% |
|
1950 |
86,592 |
3.9% |
|
1960 |
97,632 |
12.7% |
|
1970 |
116,241 |
19.1% |
|
1980 |
133,348 |
14.7% |
|
1990 |
148,976 |
11.7% |
|
2000 |
167,392 |
12.4% |
|
2006 |
183,217 |
9.5% |
|
2010 |
198,000 |
8.1% |
|
2020 |
225,000 |
13.6% |
|
2030 |
245,700 |
9.2% |
Local Population Changes
|
City |
1990 Population |
2006 Population |
Percent Change |
|
Sartell |
5,393 |
13,917 |
158.1% |
|
Sauk
Rapids |
7,825 |
12,679 |
62.0% |
|
St. Cloud |
48,812 |
66,228 |
35.7% |
|
St. Joseph |
3,294 |
5,873 |
78.3% |
|
Waite Park |
5,020 |
6,738 |
34.2% |
|
Becker |
902 |
4,048 |
449% |
|
Greater
St. Cloud Area |
71,246 |
109,483 |
53.6% |
Click here ( http://www.deed.state.mn.us/lmi/__shared/assets/Region7W_040616253.pdf)
for information on the Central Minnesota
Labor Market. Workforce training and
development initiatives in the area
abound. The region includes six
completely separate and distinct
agencies that The Partnership works
closely with, and all are dedicated to
labor force development, customized
training, and related services. You can
find out more about specific educational
institutions in the Education and
Training section of this Web site, but
here's a brief summary of the agencies
and services that are provided:
-
COLLEGE OF SAINT BENEDICT & SAINT
JOHN'S UNIVERSITY-
Nationally recognized Catholic liberal arts colleges and ranked as two of the top three Catholic colleges in the nation. They share one academic program and students attend classes together on both campuses. This integrated learning experience combines a challenging academic program with extensive opportunities for international study, leadership, service learning, spiritual growth and cultural and athletic involvement.
-
MINNESOTA SCHOOL OF
BUSINESS -
Globe
University/Minnesota
School of Business
is accredited by the
Accrediting Council
for Independent
Colleges
to award diplomas,
Associate in Applied
Science degrees,
Bachelor of Science
degrees, and Masters
degrees.
-
MINNESOTA WORKFORCE CENTER
- The Partnership works closely with
the workforce center on labor force-related
initiatives. This agency is a one-stop
service center housing three
divisions of DEED (Rehabilitation
Services, Services for the Blind,
and Job Service) as well as some
programs of Stearns County Human
Services and all of Stearns-Benton
Employment & Training Council (a
local workforce development agency,
see below for more information). It
also provides
access to the largest source of
qualified applicants and the opportunity
for companies to list job openings on a
computerized, Internet-based job system.
Companies also get employee recruitment
and screening assistance as well as
labor market data and business-related
information. In addition, a job analysis
service analyzes the skill levels of
various occupations and assesses the
skill levels of potential and current
employees. Employers can use this
information to target training programs
for employees. MN Job Service teams up with The Partnership to co-sponsor the annual Community
Job Fair.
-
RASMUSSEN COLLEGE -
A
regionally accredited institute of
learning, granting degrees
through the Bachelor level with an
online component.
-
RESOURCE TRAINING & SOLUTIONS
-
This organization provides hands-on
classroom, on-line and customized
training. Customized training is
done on the company’s site with a
portable lab, or in Resource’s
state-of-the-art training facility
in St. Cloud. Resource Training and
Solutions has also partnered with
the College of St. Scholastica to
bring accelerated bachelor and
master degree programs to the St.
Cloud area. Classes are highly
interactive and encourage students
to share experiences while growing
in knowledge of both theory and
practice. A master’s degree in
education is also available.
-
ST.
CLOUD TECHNICAL COLLEGE
- Employers find high quality, customized training for their workers here. The College's Center for Innovation and Economic Development designs and delivers customized in-house and on-site training to meet specific company needs. State funding for this service helps to keep costs below market rates for similar services.
-
ST.
CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY - The University's Office of Sponsored Programs matches business needs with an array of resources: employee training and education options, consulting and technical assistance from doctoral-level faculty, research and organizational or product development, links to field-specific top senior and master-level students for internships or special projects, and contract research development.
-
STEARNS-BENTON EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING
COUNCIL
- This agency helps identify
and prepare potential employees. Candidates seeking assistance from The Council are screened on seventeen areas of skill and work habits to ensure a good employment match. Additionally, companies that hire from The Council receive in-kind training assistance which amounts to an additional workforce training subsidy. The Council also assists area employers through school-to-work activities such as job fairs, apprenticeships, and internships.
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