BRAINERD — Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program, with an office in Brainerd, and Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development staff along with other Northwest Minnesota workforce development professionals in the CareerForce system recently offered a look at the current regional job search environment and how it has changed over time.

Of the 36 Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program staff, DEED staff and other workforce development professionals in the Northwest Minnesota region who completed a Job Search Experience survey in January, none said it was much easier for job seekers they are working with to find employment compared to a year ago, 6% said it was somewhat easier, 42% said it was somewhat harder and 3% said it was much harder to find employment. Fifty percent said the job search environment was about the same as this time last year.

Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program and DEED staff, along with other workforce development professionals in the area said it was currently easier for people to get hired in food service positions and health care support positions (like nursing assistants and personal care aides) as well as cleaning and maintenance positions and manufacturing production positions than it was a year ago.

They said it is harder to get hired into positions like IT and math experts, creative professionals, managers and leaders, community and social service positions (like social workers, counselors and clergy members) than a year ago.

“The labor statistics confirm what we’re hearing from job seekers: some roles are simply tougher to secure today. That’s exactly why (Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program) is here, we provide guidance, resources, and encouragement so people in our communities can continue to move toward meaningful employment,” said Tina Jaster, Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program executive director.

The results of the Job Search Experience survey align closely with recent data from DEED’s Labor Market Information Office. In Northwest Minnesota, the unemployment rate rose to 5.9% in December, up from 3.7% a year earlier. This marks the highest December rate since 2016 and, before that, 2013. This loosening labor market is occurring across Minnesota, and the experiences highlighted in this survey show how even modest shifts in economic conditions can have real impacts on people’s lives.

CareerForce is the state’s official career exploration and job search resource, with more than 50 locations throughout the state to serve people looking for work. Statewide, nearly 63% of CareerForce Staff and Partners who responded to the most recent Job Search Experience survey said it was harder than a year ago for their job seeking customers to find work. About 9% of respondents to the most recent survey said it was easier for their clients to find work now versus a year ago, while 28% said it was the same. DEED sends out the Job Search Experience Survey twice a year.

View more detailed information about Job Search Experience survey results on the
DEED website
.