Talent and Workforce
Washington County has the talent companies need to succeed. According to the Department of Employment and Economic Development’s (DEED) Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), Washington County’s total labor force equaled 141,974 people in 2018. The county’s labor force grew by 12,652 people between 2008 and 2018, averaging 1.0 percent annual growth.
Of these workers, 100,000 people work outside the county, creating an immediate opportunity for Washington County businesses looking to hire top talent wishing to work close to home. In addition, our population of 25 - 34-year-olds is expected to increase by 65 percent between 2020 and 2030, ensuring a steady increase in our workforce.
Our Workforce is Educated
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 39.4 percent of the county’s population had a bachelor’s degree or more in 2017, compared with 32.1 percent of Minnesota’s population. In addition, 95.2 percent of Washington County’s population had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2017, compared with 92.2 percent of Minnesota’s population.
This high degree of educational attainment can be partially attributed to the large number of colleges and universities located within the Twin Cities region. Hundreds of thousands of college students earning a degree or certificate within an hour of Washington County, employers have an incredible opportunity to hire interns and recent graduates who are capable of growing with the company. In addition, with St. Paul just 10-minutes away, companies can recruit experienced talent from the large corporations that call the Twin Cities home.
What makes Washington County a better location than the Twin Cities is our abundance of available real estate. We have the same talent pool, but here, there is land for development and existing vacant buildings.
Industry Clusters
There are several industry clusters in Washington County that employ hundreds of people. For companies in these industries, there are advantages of clustering together - including access to a strong talent pool and workforce educational resources. Some of our largest industries are:
- Wood Products
- Business Services
- Financial Services
- Hospitality and Tourism
- Distribution and Electronic Commerce
- Production Technology and Heavy Machinery
- Insurance Services
- Metalworking Technology
- Education and Knowledge Creation
- Transportation and Logistics
- Construction Products and Services
- Marketing, Design, and Publishing
- Oil and Gas Production and Transportation
- Information Technology and Analytical Instruments
- Biopharmaceuticals
- Upstream Metal Manufacturing
- Food Processing and Manufacturing
- Plastics
- Printing Services
- Downstream Metal Products
- Downstream Chemical Products
- Medical Devices
- Electric Power Generation and Transmission
- Communications Equipment and Services
Tech Talent in Washington County
Washington County is part of the Minnesota Technology Corridor. We have the tech talent companies need to be successful. With limited talent in the growing tech sectors of Seattle, San Francisco and Denver, companies are looking to Washington County for expansion.