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Hot jobs? Try healthcare, education
Published 12:00 p.m., March 16, 2009
Health care and higher education are bright spots in West Central Minnesota’s labor market, according to one state analyst.
Nate Dorr is a labor market analyst with Minnesota’s Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). In collecting and analyzing employment data for Otter Tail and eight surrounding counties, Dorr says certain industries are hiring despite the economic downturn.
“By occupational group, health care has the largest number of openings,” he said.
Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, laboratory technicians, records technicians and home health aides are generally in demand at hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities in the region. Some chemical dependency and mental health centers are also hiring.
While jobs within K-12 education remain tight, the outlook at post-secondary institutions is better, Dorr said. That’s due in part to larger high school graduating classes over the past few years. Another factor: Many adults are going back to school for specialized training, particularly in the areas of information technology and management. Also, some colleges have partnered with businesses to provide custom training for employees.
Local banks are faring well despite problems plaguing their larger counterparts. A lot of the banks that got caught up with sub-prime mortgage loans were large institutions based in New York, Dorr said. Because local banks tend to be more conservative and are more familiar with their clientele, they managed to avoid the kind of lending that got larger banks into trouble.
Still, Otter Tail County’s unemployment rate sat at 10.4 percent in January, the highest since 1993. Construction-related jobs have been among the hardest hit. According to Dorr, plastics manufacturers in the region have cut 17 percent of jobs in the past three years.
Clearwater County has the highest unemployment rate statewide at 21.5 percent. The state average is 8.5 percent.
Additional data on in-demand occupations, job vacancies and employment projections is available by visiting www.positivelymn.com and clicking on “Labor Market Information.” Otter Tail County is in DEED’s Region 4, which also includes Clay, Becker, Wilkin, Traverse, Stevens, Pope, Grant and Douglas counties.
Dorr also recommends visiting DEED partner site www.iseek.org/westcentral for more on regional careers.
Dorr will be speaking at the kick-off of the Lakes Area Job Club tonight at M-State. The free event is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. in Legacy Hall.
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The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post. To post a comment you will need to register. Or, if you're already registered but have not included your true, verifiable identity with your registration, you will need to update your account to include your identity. Effective Dec. 1, 2009, all posts appear with the commenter's true identity, which must be verified by site staff. Those who registered prior to Dec. 1, 2009, should be aware that once you update your information with your true identity, all prior posts under your user name will also indicate your true identity. If you do not wish to link yourself to prior comments, you should register again with a different user name.Posted by Viking1 (anonymous) on March 16, 2009 at 11:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Another hot job market is the military. All these people running aroung whining about the government not doing anything for them, well, do something for your country and yourself, look into the military, if you are eligible. Pay and benefits are far better than most jobs in FF.
Posted by peanutbutter (anonymous) on March 16, 2009 at 11:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Come on Viking1 now why would anyone do anything for their country. We just want to whine whine whine and ask for them to give give give. LOL. I agree if you are able there are jobs out there.
Posted by mgdbottled (anonymous) on March 17, 2009 at noon (Suggest removal)
Join the military? Job description: "CANNON FODDER". Great pay. A bit over minimum wage. I'd rather dig ditches.
Posted by Viking1 (anonymous) on March 17, 2009 at 3:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mgb you sound like a disgruntled Viet Nam Army draftee infantrymen. A very small percentage of the military are exposed to combat. Minimum wage--you apparently have not checked the pay scale lately and the benefits beat any large company out there. You have job security that is not available anywhere else. But I guess they need ditch diggers in Michigan so grab a shovel.
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