Minnesota is facing a significant shortage of workers. At the Minnesota Demographic Center’s forecasted rates of labor force participation and dwindling population growth, we could expect as little as 0.3% average annual employment growth between 2018 and 2025. Although recent labor force and employment estimates have been more favorable than what was originally forecast in 2017, there is still cause for concern that Minnesota’s shortage of talent will impact economic growth in the near future.

This graphic, originally developed in October 2016 and later updated in 2017 with new data and insights, offers a simplified 6-year outlook at the impact of several challenging, yet important goals for the future employment of Minnesotans.