Top 15 Minnesota Job Vacancies
The following table shows the top 15 job titles with the most vacancies in Minnesota during Spring 2011.
| Job title | Number of job vacancies | Job vacancy rate*(%) | Median wage offer** ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail salespersons | 3,016 |
3.8% |
$7.50 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 1,663 |
3.8% |
$7.25 |
| Cashiers | 1,454 |
2.4% |
$7.50 |
| Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants | 1,128 |
NA |
$10.60 |
| Personal care aides | 1,112 |
2.7% |
$9.25 |
| Freight handlers | 1,039 |
3.4% |
$9.00 |
| Combined food preparation and service workers, including fast food | 1,034 |
2.0% |
$7.25 |
| Registered nurses | 992 |
NA |
$28.44 |
| Heavy truck drivers | 988 |
3.2% |
$19.23 |
| Personal financial advisors | 880 |
31.6% |
$43.27 |
| Receptionists and information clerks | 811 |
4.2% |
$9.00 |
| Home health aides | 723 |
2.0% |
$10.00 |
| Customer service representatives | 651 |
1.6% |
$12.00 |
| Secretaries and administrative assistants | 646 |
5.5% |
$12.85 |
| Cooks, restaurant | 587 |
2.7% |
$9.00 |
* The job vacancy rate is the number of job vacancies expressed as a percent of the total number of existing jobs.
** The median is the point at which 50 percent of workers make less and 50 percent make more (as reported by employers).
Job Quality
When comparing occupations, you should also take into account job quality. Some aspects to consider include:
- Wage
Low wage occupations, such as food preparation and serving, are more likely to be affected by high turnover. Because of this, they appear to have a lot of openings. - Seasonality
Occupations like landscaping or highway construction work are highly seasonal. The demand for these types of jobs drops at the end of the summer and picks up again in the spring. - Work Status
Some openings are mainly part time and temporary. If your dream is to become a musician or actor, you will see lots of openings under arts, design, entertainment, and media. But keep I mind that some professions hire freelance or temporary employees to help with specific projects or events. They rarely hire new employees for long-term, permanent positions. If job security is important to you, look at industries or occupations where permanent work is most common.
Source: Minnesota Job Vacancy Survey, 4th Quarter 2010, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
