Click here to return to the home page for Southwest Minnesota Careers
Click here to see a list of hot jobs sorted by future demand Click here to see a list of hot jobs sorted by education requirements Click here to see a list of hot jobs sorted by annual wages Click here to see a list of growing and emerging industries in Southwest Minnesota Click here to take a career and skill assessment Click here to get help with your job search and resume writing

Click here to see a list of occupations in demand in Southwest MinnesotaCareer exploration is all about gathering information. What are you interested in doing? Are any of those jobs available? How much do those occupations pay? Do you have the education or training needed for those jobs? This website was designed by the Southwest Minnesota WorkForce Council to help you answer these career exploration questions. But there is another important piece of information to consider: Where do you want to live? Job availability depends on where you live.

For example, if you wanted to be a welder or a machinist, it would be important for you to know that 18 percent of the jobs in Southwest Minnesota are in the manufacturing industry – especially when you compare that to only 13 percent statewide. And, demand for welders has remained high while employment in manufacturing increased five times as fast in Southwest Minnesota as in the rest of the state over the last 3 years. That's a big difference! It increases your chances of finding a job in this area. Likewise, if you want to start a career in the health care field, you will be excited to know that health care and social assistance is projected to add nearly 2,500 jobs - a 22.6% growth rate - in the region this decade!

If you are interested in living and working in Southwest Minnesota, this website is designed to inform you about job availability and wages in this region of the state. The 100 Hot Jobs on this list have been selected because they are currently in high demand in Southwest Minnesota and are projected to stay that way into the future. Many of these jobs also offer high pay compared to other occupations in the region. The information contained in this site will help you make informed career choices as you develop your skills and plan your education.

While the 100 occupations featured below are great choices because of their current and future demand in the region, should you limit your occupational choices to this list? No! Choosing a career is a very personal decision and you should still take into consideration all aspects of a career when you’re making a choice, such as educational requirements, annual wages, and your personality style and work values. In fact, the state of Minnesota tracks more than 770 different occupations, many of which are available in Southwest Minnesota even though they did not make this list of hot jobs. For additional information on how to plan your career and conduct an effective job search, please contact your local Minnesota WorkForce Center.

(Occupational titles are links to ISEEK career information pages that will open in a new window,
where you can study the career description, work activities, and plan your education)

Occupations in Demand in Southwest Minnesota, Sorted by Current Demand
Hot Jobs in Southwest Minnesota
Hot Jobs in Southwest Minnesota Hot Jobs in Southwest Minnesota Hot Jobs in Southwest Minnesota Hot Jobs in Southwest Minnesota Hot Jobs in Southwest Minnesota Hot Jobs in Southwest Minnesota
Occupations with a High Level of Current Demand in Southwest Minnesota
Computer Software Engineers
360
High
52.0%
213
Home Health Aides
1,070
High
49.9%
1,112
Computer Systems Analysts
110
High
44.0%
108
Personal & Home Care Aides
420
High
31.1%
1,771
Dental Hygienists
80
High
29.9%
118
Rehabilitation Counselors
60
High
28.6%
50
Social & Human Service Assistants
810
High
28.1%
312
Computer & Info. Systems Managers
110
High
25.6%
92
Registered Nurses
1,690
High
24.0%
1,141
Medical Transcriptionists
80
High
22.4%
108
Emergency Medical Techs & Paramedics
120
High
22.1%
204
Marketing Managers
90
High
21.8%
61
Meat, Poultry & Fish Cutters & Trimmers
240
High
20.2%
305
Industrial Engineers
170
High
20.1%
78
Accountants & Auditors
490
High
19.8%
572
Customer Service Representatives
670
High
19.3%
708
Slaughterers & Meat Packers
550
High
18.6%
328
Physical Therapists
90
High
17.1%
46
Cost Estimators
110
High
14.9%
115
Securities, Commodities & Financial Services Sales Representatives
130
High
14.8%
47
Loan Officers
200
High
14.5%
212
First-line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installation, & Repair Workers
240
High
13.2%
273
Combined Food Prep & Serving Workers
1,460
High
12.9%
2,662
Truck Drivers, Heavy & Tractor-Trailer
1,520
High
12.7%
1,312
Waiters & Waitresses
1,120
High
12.7%
1,872
Farm Equipment, Truck Mechanics &
Diesel Engine Specialists
150
High
11.8%
203
Janitors, Maids, Housekeeping Cleaners
1,360
High
11.5%
854
Retail Salespersons
1,500
High
11.4%
2,719
Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operators, Metal & Plastic
120
High
11.3%
85
Correctional Officers & Jailers
400
High
11.3%
152
Nursing Aides, Orderlies & Attendants
1,170
High
10.9%
974
Receptionists & Information Clerks
550
High
10.8%
603
First-line Supervisors of Transportation & Material Moving Workers
160
High
10.6%
186
Automotive Service Techs & Mechanics
290
High
9.9%
440
Sales Representatives (Mfg. & Services)
640
High
9.4%
435
First-line Supervisors of Production & Operating Workers (Line Managers)
540
High
9.3%
492
First-line Supervisors of Food Preparation Workers (Fast Food & Restaurant)
420
High
8.6%
409
Cleaners of Vehicles & Equipment
300
High
8.4%
297
Packers & Packagers, Hand
450
High
8.3%
492
Construction Managers
290
High
8.1%
235
Carpenters
570
High
8.0%
583
General Maintenance & Repair Workers
430
High
7.9%
422
Inspectors & Testers (Quality Control)
250
High
6.8%
260
Licensed Practical Nurses
710
High
6.8%
617
Hairstylists & Cosmetologists
100
High
6.3%
251
General Office Clerks
1,560
High
4.4%
1,245
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers
320
High
3.4%
283
Water & Liquid Waste Treatment Plant & System Operators
90
High
1.5%
188
Long-term on-the-job training
Mixing & Blending Machine Operators
150
High
-1.1%
70
Moderate on-the-job training
Fiberglass Laminators & Fabricators
160
High
-4.1%
40
Cashiers and Counter & Rental Clerks
2,190
High
-4.9%
2,670
Hot Jobs in Southwest Minnesota
Hot Jobs in Southwest Minnesota Hot Jobs in Southwest Minnesota Hot Jobs in Southwest Minnesota Hot Jobs in Southwest Minnesota Hot Jobs in Southwest Minnesota Hot Jobs in Southwest Minnesota
Occupations with a Medium Level of Current Demand in Southwest Minnesota
Wind Energy Technicians & Mechanics
125
Medium
100.0%
185
Associate degree
Network & Computer Systems Admins.
190
Medium
33.5%
154
Dental Assistants
125
Medium
29.9%
118
Medical Recs. & Health Info. Technicians
100
Medium
26.8%
121
Pharmacy Technicians
100
Medium
25.6%
94
Radiologic Technologists & Technicians
120
Medium
24.1%
93
First-line Supervisors of Personal Care & Service Workers
110
Medium
20.5%
178
Market Research Analysts
140
Medium
17.7%
101
Medical & Health Services Managers
150
Medium
15.4%
108
Mechanical Engineers
140
Medium
14.3%
40
Tellers
250
Medium
13.1%
746
Purchasing Agents & Buyers (incl. Farm Products & Wholesale Trade)
140
Medium
10.6%
112
Machinists
220
Medium
8.2%
120
Boiler Operators & Stationary Engineers
45
Medium
8.0%
43
Shipping, Receiving, & Traffic Clerks
360
Medium
5.4%
239
Dentists
65
Medium
3.1%
36
Office Managers
640
Medium
2.0%
371
Education Administrators
150
Medium
0.0%
110
Hot Jobs in Southwest Minnesota
Hot Jobs in Southwest Minnesota Hot Jobs in Southwest Minnesota Hot Jobs in Southwest Minnesota Hot Jobs in Southwest Minnesota Hot Jobs in Southwest Minnesota Hot Jobs in Southwest Minnesota
Occupations with a Small Level of Current Demand in Southwest Minnesota
Ethanol Plant Process Operators
120
Small
50.0%
120
Medical Assistants
150
Small
44.0%
179
Agricultural & Food Science Technicians
40
Small
29.3%
69
Family & General Practitioners
120
Small
26.7%
117
HR, Employment & Training Specialists
140
Small
22.5%
143
Insurance Sales Agents
240
Small
20.7%
317
Pharmacists
90
Small
20.5%
83
Laboratory Technicians
90
Small
20.0%
52
Heating, Air Cond., & Refrig. Mechanics
40
Small
19.7%
96
Construction Equipment Operators
280
Small
19.2%
297
Cement Masons & Concrete Finishers
80
Small
17.5%
76
Financial Managers
260
Small
17.4%
158
Cooks, Restaurant & Short Order
420
Small
16.4%
693
Plumbers, Pipefitters, & Steamfitters
150
Small
16.1%
119
Landscapers & Groundskeepers
220
Small
15.2%
426
Computer Support Specialists
200
Small
15.0%
83
Industrial Machinery Mechanics &
Fluid Power Technicians
320
Small
13.6%
266