Located in:
- II. Strategic Elements
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include a Strategic Planning Elements section that analyzes the State’s current economic environment and identifies the State’s overall vision for its workforce development system. The required elements in this section allow the State to develop data-driven goals for preparing an educated and skilled workforce and to identify successful strategies for aligning workforce development programs. Unless otherwise noted, all Strategic Planning Elements apply to Combined State Plan partner programs included in the plan as well as to core programs.
- a. Economic, Workforce, and Workforce Development Activities Analysis
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include an analysis of the economic conditions, economic development strategies, and labor market in which the State’s workforce system and programs will operate.
- a. Economic, Workforce, and Workforce Development Activities Analysis
II. a. 1. A. Economic Analysis (A.I -A.III)
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include an analysis of the economic conditions and trends in the State, including sub-State regions and any specific economic areas identified by the State. This must include-
i. Existing Demand Industry Sectors and Occupations
Provide an analysis of the industries and occupations for which there is existing demand.
ii. Emerging Industry Sectors and Occupation
Provide an analysis of the industries and occupations for which demand is emerging.
iii. Employers’ Employment Needs
With regard to the industry sectors and occupations identified in 1 and 2 above, provide an assessment of the employment needs of employers, including a description of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required, including credentials and licenses.
Current Narrative:
Despite the relatively low numbers, minority-owned firms are growing in number much faster than white owned firms in Minnesota. While white-owned firms declined between 2007 and 2012, minority-owned firms grew by 60.3 percent in Minnesota with revenues up 88.5 percent over the period. Our focus is on targeting and increasing our service capacity to Minnesotans with barriers to employment. In 2014, Minnesotans of color made up 19 percent of the state's population. Individuals from communities of color currently make us one in every four individuals served in our workforce system through universal services and eligibility-based program.
Given the well-documented and unequal unemployment rates by race and ethnicity, we can do more to ensure that communities most in need have access to and participate in our workforce system. This access and participation must also extend to Minnesotans with disabilities and disconnected youth. In 2014, nearly 11 percent of Minnesotans have a disability. These statistics are even greater for the state's Black or African American and American Indian residents. And unemployment rates for individuals with a disability exceed state averages in Minnesota.
Finally, while measures show that Minnesota has the 4th lowest rate among states for disconnected youth - those age 16 to 24 who are neither working nor in school - rates of disconnection are disproportionate by race and ethnicity. Minneapolis-St. Paul metro data show a 16.6 percent disconnection rate among Black of African Americans versus 7.7 percent for whites. Regional profiles have been made available to each of the workforce development regions. Additional information and analysis will be provided to each region as requested.
Gender and Minnesota’s Workforce
As Minnesota’s economic growth continues to test the capacity of workforce development, it has become increasingly important to look at all aspects of ensuring a robust talent pipeline. The talent pipeline must encourage all career and job seekers to consider all the opportunities for career pathways that lead to family sustaining wages. Minnesota has one of the highest labor force participation rates in the country and provides ample access to the workforce development system for both women and men. The following chart provides an overview of basic labor market information by gender and racial categories:
Minnesota Employment Characteristics, 2016
| Employment Characteristics by Gender | Population, 16 & over | In Labor Force | Labor Force Partic. Rate | Unemployed Workers | Unemp. Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 4,375,523 | 3,040,524 | 69.5% | 116,518 | 3.8% |
| Male | 2,162,002 | 1,585,674 | 73.3% | 68,031 | 4.3% |
| Female | 2,213,521 | 1,454,850 | 65.7% | 48,487 | 3.3% |
| Employment Characteristics by Race | Population, 16 & over | In Labor Force | Labor Force Partic. Rate | Unemployed Workers | Unemp. Rate |
| White alone | 3,750,633 | 2,602,939 | 69.4% | 83,294 | 3.2% |
| Black or African American alone | 228,798 | 155,354 | 67.9% | 16,623 | 10.7% |
| American Indian & Alaska Native alone | 44,183 | 26,421 | 59.8% | 3,382 | 12.8% |
| Asian or Other Pac. Islanders alone | 193,451 | 137,544 | 71.1% | 5,364 | 3.9% |
| Some Other Race alone | 75,522 | 58,907 | 78.0% | 3,240 | 5.5% |
| Two or More Races | 81,729 | 59,826 | 73.2% | 4,786 | 8.0% |
| Employment Characteristics by Hispanic Origin | Population, 16 & over | In Labor Force | Labor Force Partic. Rate | Unemployed Workers | Unemp. Rate |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 187,733 | 143,240 | 76.3% | 9,167 | 6.4% |
| Employment Characteristics by Disability | Population, 16 & over | In Labor Force | Labor Force Partic. Rate | Unemployed Workers | Unemp. Rate |
| With Any Disability | 291,686 | 152,260 | 52.2% | 12,181 | 8.0% |
Source: 2016 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates
At this level, labor force participation and unemployment rates are relatively equal by gender. The disparities continue to be primarily reflected in characteristics by race and disability. Furthermore, a breakout of characteristics for women by ethnicity demonstrate continued inequities along racial lines as highlighted in the following table.
| Rates By Ethnicity | White | Black | Asian | Hispanic | AI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H.S. Diploma | 95.8% | 77.5% | 74.9% | 65.7% | 85.8% |
| Unemployment | 2.7% | 11.0% | 2.9% | 6.9% | 8.4% |
| Median Earnings | 45,720 | 33,373 | 42,050 | 30,590 | 36,970 |
| Poverty | 18.7% | 39.3% | 20.7% | 34.1% | 38.2% |
| Labor Participation | 65.5% | 66.3% | 65.6% | 69.8% | 64.7% |
| Bachelor's or Higher | 36.0% | 20.7% | 41.7% | 17.0% | 21.0% |
Source: 2016 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates
However, at a deeper level, looking at industry sectors and occupations, a different trend emerges. The following table illustrates gender inequities, highlighting the top 10 occupations dominated by female and male employment.
| Employment | Percent of Total | Employment | Percent of Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total, All Occupations | 1,515,561 | 51.9% | 1,406,085 | 48.1% |
| Female-dominated occupations | Male | Female | ||
| Preschool and kindergarten teachers | 120 | 0.9% | 13,387 | 99.1% |
| Occupational and physical therapist assistants and aides | 70 | 3.0% | 2,248 | 97.0% |
| Secretaries and administrative assistants | 3,168 | 5.7% | 52,410 | 94.3% |
| Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks | 1,972 | 8.6% | 21,031 | 91.4% |
| Personal appearance workers | 1,937 | 9.6% | 18,320 | 90.4% |
| Child care workers | 3,179 | 9.8% | 29,289 | 90.2% |
| Special education teachers | 723 | 10.1% | 6,445 | 89.9% |
| Registered nurses | 7,721 | 11.2% | 61,135 | 88.8% |
| Other healthcare support occupations | 2,762 | 11.3% | 21,730 | 88.7% |
| Legal support workers | 1,179 | 13.8% | 7,382 | 86.2% |
| Male-dominated occupations | Male | Female | ||
| Extraction workers | 1,343 | 99.5% | 7 | 0.5% |
| Rail and water transportation workers | 2,135 | 99.3% | 15 | 0.7% |
| Carpenters | 24,118 | 98.9% | 271 | 1.1% |
| Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers | 32,324 | 98.9% | 376 | 1.1% |
| Pipe layers, plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters | 9,532 | 98.5% | 144 | 1.5% |
| First-line supervisors of construction and extraction workers | 11,876 | 97.4% | 319 | 2.6% |
| Construction laborers | 26,691 | 96.7% | 922 | 3.3% |
| Electricians | 12,352 | 96.6% | 439 | 3.4% |
| Material moving workers except supervisors, laborers and material movers, hand | 12,123 | 95.6% | 563 | 4.4% |
| Other construction workers and helpers | 8,026 | 94.6% | 460 | 5.4% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2016 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates
The industry sectors selected by the six regions included many of the following occupations where male employment is predominant, presenting gender inequities that may be impeding the robust talent pipeline Minnesota seeks to establish through our WIOA strategies.
| Minnesota Occupations by Gender | Male | Female | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | Percent of Total | Employment | Percent of Total | |
| Total, All Occupations | 1,515,561 | 51.9% | 1,406,085 | 48.1% |
| Extraction workers | 1,343 | 99.5% | 7 | 0.5% |
| Rail & water transportation workers | 2,135 | 99.3% | 15 | 0.7% |
| Vehicle & mobile equipment mechanics, installers, & repairers | 32,324 | 98.9% | 376 | 1.1% |
| Carpenters | 24,118 | 98.9% | 271 | 1.1% |
| Pipe layers, plumbers, pipefitters, & steamfitters | 9,532 | 98.5% | 144 | 1.5% |
| First-line supervisors of construction & extraction workers | 11,876 | 97.4% | 319 | 2.6% |
| Construction laborers | 26,691 | 96.7% | 922 | 3.3% |
| Electricians | 12,352 | 96.6% | 439 | 3.4% |
| Material moving workers except supervisors & laborers & material movers, hand | 12,123 | 95.6% | 563 | 4.4% |
| Other construction workers & helpers | 8,026 | 94.6% | 460 | 5.4% |
| Driver/sales workers & truck drivers | 62,920 | 94.3% | 3,837 | 5.7% |
| Plant & system operators | 4,975 | 94.0% | 318 | 6.0% |
| Other installation, maintenance, & repair occupations including electrical & electronic equipment mechanics, installers, & repairers | 40,968 | 93.8% | 2,688 | 6.2% |
| First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, & grounds keeping workers | 2,712 | 93.7% | 183 | 6.3% |
| Fishing & hunting, & forest, conservation, & logging workers | 1,138 | 92.9% | 87 | 7.1% |
| Grounds maintenance workers | 16,954 | 91.2% | 1,637 | 8.8% |
| Metal workers & plastic workers | 37,799 | 90.9% | 3,780 | 9.1% |
| Firefighting & prevention workers | 2,122 | 90.8% | 216 | 9.2% |
| Painters & paperhangers | 7,859 | 90.2% | 858 | 9.8% |
| Woodworkers | 4,577 | 89.9% | 517 | 10.1% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2016 American Community Survey
Disability by gender information provides limited insights, due to data surpression requirements. Overall, the data does show the disparities for those with disabilities. Females, in general, also trail behind men in one known category - median earnings - and it can some what be inffered that this would hold true in the other characteristics.
Outcomes - Disability by Gender
| - | WITH DISABILITIES | WITH DISABILITIES | WITH DISABILITIES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristics | Total | Male | Female |
| HS Diploma | 85.5% | - | - |
| Unemployment | 8.0% | - | - |
| Median Earnings (total) | $19,767 | $21,914 | $16,767 |
| Poverty | 18.3% | - | - |
| Labor Force Participation | 52.2% | - | - |
| Bachelor's or Higher | 18.5% | - | - |
Inequities exist for both males and females by race. The following two tables show the outcomes by gender and race.
Outcomes - Male by Race
| Characteristics | Total | White | Black | Asian | Hispanic | Native American |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HS Diploma | 92.6% | 94.3% | 85.8% | 82.8% | 59.8% | 86.1% |
| Unemployment | 4.3% | 3.7% | 10.5% | 4.8% | 6.0% | 16.0% |
| Median Earnings (total) | $41,616 | $44,597 | $26,969 | $37,042 | $28,009 | $22,828 |
| Median Earnings (full-time, year-round) | $53,200 | $55,990 | $37,235 | $50,579 | $35,291 | $36,319 |
| Poverty | 9.0% | 6.5% | 28.1% | 15.9% | 15.3% | 32.9% |
| Labor Force Participation | 73.3% | 73.3% | 69.5% | 77.1% | 82.2% | 61.0% |
| Bachelor's or Higher | 33.7% | 34.7% | 22.9% | 42.7% | 13.5% | 10.5% |
Outcomes - Female by Race
| Characteristics | Total | White | Black | Asian | Hispanic | Native American |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HS Diploma | 93.3% | 95.8% | 77.5% | 74.9% | 65.7% | 83.6% |
| Unemployment | 3.3% | 2.7% | 11.0% | 2.9% | 6.9% | 10.0% |
| Median Earnings (total) | $30,787 | $31,605 | $21,797 | $30,299 | $21,055 | $23,321 |
| Median Earnings (full-time, year-round) | $44,132 | $45,720 | $33,373 | $42,050 | $30,590 | $35,492 |
| Poverty | 10.8% | 8.2% | 31.5% | 16.1% | 21.0% | 30.3% |
| Labor Force Participation | 65.7% | 65.5% | 66.3% | 65.6% | 69.8% | 58.7% |
| Bachelor's or Higher | 35.9% | 37.2% | 18.5% | 40.8% | 17.0% | 17.0% |
1-Year Estimates
Gender equity presents an opportunity for further strategy development as Minnesota considers a variety of aspects for its workforce analysis in building and sustaining a robust talent pipeline to meet the needs of employers. From an economic perspective of family sustain wages - the focus of goal number one in the State Plan - gender inequities are more prevalent along racial lines. From a Career Pathway perspective of employment opportunity that meet the needs of industry - the focus of goal number two in the State Plan - gender inequities exist that appear to limit opportunities for women and a more robust talent pipeline for employers.
Ethnic Subcategories
Minnesota's regions also contain various ethic groups within the larger subgroups presented elsewhere in this section. To assist the regions with this issue the State Board and DEED will provide more detailed breakouts of these populations. The following tables illustrate some of these breakouts within Asian and Native Americans groups in Minnesota.
Asian
| Hmong | Asian Indian | Vietnamese | Chinese | Filipino | Korean | Burmese | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty Status | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent |
| Less than 100% of poverty | 12,921 | 16.8% | 4,329 | 8.0% | 3,989 | 12.4% | 7,110 | 25.2% | 127 | 0.8% | 3,530 | 24.1% | 6,294 | 48.3% |
| 100-199% of poverty level | 18159 | 23.6% | 1,708 | 3.2% | 3,247 | 10.1% | 4,901 | 17.4% | 2,830 | 17.8% | 2,042 | 13.9% | 4,058 | 31.2% |
| 200% or more of poverty level | 45846 | 59.6% | 48,133 | 88.9% | 24,974 | 77.5% | 16,214 | 57.4% | 12,973 | 81.4% | 9,078 | 62.0% | 2,675 | 20.5% |
| Chippewa | Sioux | Am. Indian/Alaskan, tribe not reported | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty Status | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent |
| Less than 100% of poverty | 13,111 | 32.6% | 1,908 | 24.5% | 4,138 | 52.9% |
| 100-199% of poverty level | 11,073 | 27.6% | 2,492 | 32.0% | 1,642 | 21.0% |
| 200% or more of poverty level | 15,987 | 39.8% | 3,385 | 43.5% | 2,048 | 26.2% |