Minnesota Manufacturing Week
Governor Mark Dayton issued a proclamation making this week, October1-7 as Minnesota Manufacturing Week.
Manufacturing is quite the kingpin in Steele County. According to Data USA manufacturing ranks number 1 among industries in the county with 24% employed in manufacturing with around 4,500 employees. Health Care and Social Services ranks second at 13% with around 2,400 employees.
Statewide the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development reports manufacturing as the state's largest industry, supporting 318,000 jobs while contributing $48.2 billion dollars to the state's economy. And it's growing with manufacturing employment increasing by 9 percent between 2010 and 2016. There are over 8,200 manufacturing establishments in Minnesota. In addition, each manufacturing job generates another 2.21 jobs in other segments of the economy.
As far as pay it ranks high. In 2016 the average manufacturing position in Minnesota paid $63,794 for the year. This is around $9,500 or 17% more than the typical job in Minnesota.