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Central Minnesota Labor Force Assessment Study
The St. Cloud Area Economic Development Partnership is pleased to announce the completion of the Central Minnesota Labor Force Assessment Study. This
was a yearlong, $170,000 project.
The 2000 Minnesota State Legislature appropriated $750,000 to identify and evaluate the underemployed workforce. The Partnership applied on behalf of the 14 county central Minnesota region and was awarded $99,814. Several counties, cities and businesses stepped up to raise the required 40% match. The area covered included Region 5; Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena, Region 7E; Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine, Mille Lacs and Region 7W; Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, Wright
Over 4,140 working age adults were surveyed. Questions were asked regarding the respondents education, training, current occupation, employment status, willingness to work additional hours, wage, benefits, commute, and willingness to change jobs. The results were analyzed along with the results of the Job Vacancy Survey, a study conducted by the Department of Economic Security of businesses within the 14 county area. The data was used to determine if workers are “underemployed.”
Key findings include specific information per county and region on
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Employment information |
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Number of hours worked per week, wage / salary rates, full time and part time employee benefits offered and unemployment
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Education
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Highest degree of educational attainment (age 25 and over)
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Commute |
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Current commuting patterns and wage differential commuting vs. local employees
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Underemployment |
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Working part time involuntarily, overeducated / over qualified for current job (education higher than job requires or education in a different field that current job) by education level and occupation, earning wages below market value for one’s occupation, overall and by occupational category and earning wages below market value for one’s skill set, overall and by occupational category
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Employer perspectives |
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Workforce supply and demand, current job vacancy rate and turn-over adjusted demand
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The results of this study will be useful to economic development agencies, workforce development and education and training providers, and others. The information is public and is this month’s feature story on our website at www.scapartnership.com
In addition to DEED funds the project received matching dollars from:
The Initiative Foundation
The St. Cloud Area Economic Development Partnership
Benton County Economic Development Commission
Brainerd Lakes Area Development Corporation
Cass County Economic Development
Central Minnesota Jobs and Training
City of Isanti
East Central Energy
Economic Development Partnership of Wright County
Minnesota Power
Morrison County
Northwest Technical College
Region 5 Development Commission
Reliant Energy Minnegasco
Sherburne County Economic Development
Stearns Benton Employment and Training Council
Stearns County Housing and Redevelopment Agency
Todd County
Wadena Development Authority
Xcel Energy
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LABOR FORCE ECONOMETRIC ANALYSIS REGION 7W