Job Trends
Where will you be in your career five years from now? Will the occupations that you are qualified for match the needs of employers? Jobs that were plentiful in Minnesota 10 years ago might be different from the jobs employers will hire for 10 years from now.
Because of global and regional economic needs, technology advancements and population changes, some occupations have high employment growth and are among the fastest growing in the state, while others are shrinking.
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development has studied state job trends and can estimate which occupations will increase in size over the next few years.
Remember to consider both the growth rate and the number of annual openings for each occupation. A high growth rate does not always mean there will be a large number of openings every year.
Fastest-Growing Occupations in Minnesota
| Occupation |
Annual Openings |
Growth Rate |
Median Hourly Wage |
| Physician Assistants |
81 |
54% |
$38.90 |
| Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts |
312 |
53% |
$34.90 |
| Home Health Aides |
1,449 |
52% |
$10.70 |
| Computer Software Engineers |
917 |
47% |
$37.90 | >
| Medical Assistants |
404 |
42% |
$14.40 |
| Athletic Trainers |
15 |
41% |
$18.00 |
| Social and Human Service Assistants |
808 |
33% |
$12.60 |
| Environmental Engineer |
23 |
33% |
$34.60 |
| Computer Specialists |
3,034 |
32% |
$30.90 |
| Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs |
120 |
30% |
$10.70 |
Shrinking Occupations in Minnesota
| Occupation |
Annual Openings |
Growth Rate |
Median Hourly Wage |
| Utility Meter Readers |
13 |
-46% |
$19.40 |
| Telephone Operators |
13 |
-45% |
$19.70 |
| Office Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators |
98 |
-39% |
$12.40 |
| Computer Operators |
40 |
-30% |
$16.70 |
| Coil Winders, Tapers and Finishers |
15 |
-18% |
$14.50 |
| Communications Equipment Operators |
62 |
-17% |
$14.80 |
| Motion Picture Projectionists |
16 |
-16% |
$7.80 |
| Telemarketers |
80 |
-14% |
$10.70 |
| Word Processors and Typists |
73 |
-11% |
$15.30 |
| Parking Lot Attendants |
42 |
-11% |
$9.50 |
Source: 2004-2014 Minnesota Employment Projections, DEED; Occupational Employment Statistics (4th Quarter 2006), DEED.
Note: A growth rate of 100 percent means the occupation is expected to double in size from 2004-2014.
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