Highlighting Employment Opportunities and Economic Impact During Manufacturing Month

October is Manufacturing Month in Minnesota, in recognition of the critical importance of manufacturing to the state's economy and to highlight the many career opportunities in this vital industry. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) partners with the Minnesota State Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence, manufacturers across the state, educators and our workforce development partners to mark this month in a variety of ways.

Manufacturing is one of Minnesota's most important industries:

• Minnesota's 8,500-plus manufacturing firms contributed $58.7 billion to Minnesota's economy last year, making up 13% of the state's GDP.
   
• Manufacturers employ almost 325,000 people – more than 11% of the state's total employment and second among supersectors.
   
• Workers took home $24.9 billion last year for an average annual wage of $76,950 – 10% higher than the state's overall private sector wage.

Read the full article here.