| Career
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.
Let's look at an example: say that
you want to go to college or get training in another state, but some day
you would like to move back to Southwest Minnesota to live and work. It
is important to note that many of the jobs that are and will be available
in the region require or prefer some sort of post-secondary education,
from a vocational award or certificate to an associate degree or bachelor's
degree. And although many other jobs will be available with no post-secondary
requirements, your education is a very worthwhile investment.
You'll see in the list of 100 Hot Jobs
featured below that the highest-paying jobs
tend to require some education or experience, while the lowest-paying
jobs require little education and tend to have much higher turnover. Planning
for your education and career will help you enjoy a better
future.
While the 100
occupations on this list 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 Education/Training Requirements
(alphabetical
order)
|
| |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Occupations
Requiring Advanced Degrees |
| Family
& General Practitioners |
|
70 |
|
27.1% |
61 |
|
| Dentists |
|
90 |
|
14.6% |
46 |
|
| Pharmacists |
|
120 |
|
15.3% |
91 |
|
| Physician
Assistants |
|
50 |
|
43.5% |
20 |
|
| Veterinarians |
|
50 |
|
33.8% |
17 |
|
| Computer
Systems Analysts |
|
80 |
|
11.5% |
83 |
|
| Physical
Therapists |
|
50 |
|
21.4% |
58 |
|
| Occupational
Therapists |
|
50 |
|
19.0% |
40 |
|
| Medical
& Health Services Managers |
|
130 |
|
16.6% |
99 |
|
| Clinical
& Counseling Psychologists |
|
40 |
|
9.4% |
48 |
|
| Substance
Abuse & Behav. Disorder Counselors & Social Workers |
|
40 |
|
16.8% |
115 |
|
| |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Occupations
Requiring Bachelor's Degrees |
| Sales
& Marketing
Managers |
|
170 |
|
8.6% |
96 |
Bachelor's
deg. + work exp. |
| Computer
& Info. Systems Managers |
|
110 |
|
6.5% |
45 |
|
| Financial
Managers |
|
200 |
|
6.5% |
88 |
|
| Education
Administrators |
|
100 |
|
3.3% |
95 |
|
| Securities,
Commodities & Financial Services Sales Representatives |
|
90 |
|
8.7% |
89 |
|
| Computer
Software Engineers |
|
190 |
|
22.8% |
151 |
|
| Industrial
Engineers |
|
130 |
|
11.9% |
102 |
|
| Mechanical
Eng. & Electrical
Engineers |
|
120 |
|
-0.3% |
51 |
|
| Professors
& Postsecondary Vocational Education Teachers, incl. Nursing |
|
10 |
|
16.8% |
130 |
|
| Environmental
Scientists & Specialists |
|
30 |
|
14.3% |
25 |
|
| Civil
Engineers |
|
40 |
|
18.3% |
50 |
|
| Loan
Officers |
|
290 |
|
7.8% |
152 |
|
| Registered
Nurses |
|
1,150 |
|
23.8% |
1,116 |
|
| Management
& Market
Research Analysts |
|
120 |
|
21.3% |
209 |
|
| Network
& Computer Sys. Administrators |
|
140 |
|
12.0% |
110 |
|
| Dietitians,
Nutritionists & Health
Educators |
|
40 |
|
8.1% |
56 |
|
| Accountants
& Auditors |
|
510 |
|
15.3% |
373 |
|
| Elementary
& High
School Teachers |
|
1,020 |
|
9.6% |
466 |
|
| Child,
Family & School Social Workers |
|
220 |
|
5.3% |
122 |
|
| Cost
Estimators |
|
90 |
|
19.0% |
95 |
|
| Human
Resources, Employment, & Training Specialists |
|
60 |
|
17.2% |
44 |
|
| |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Occupations
Requiring Associate's Degrees or Postsecondary Training |
| Dental
Hygienists |
|
70 |
|
31.2% |
102 |
|
| Wind
Energy Technicians & Mechanics |
|
130 |
|
100.0% |
130 |
Associate
degree |
| Radiologic
(X-ray) Technicians |
|
110 |
|
26.0% |
81 |
|
| Agriculture
& Food Science Technicians |
|
40 |
|
8.6% |
31 |
|
| Paralegals
& Legal Assistants |
|
70 |
|
15.8% |
33 |
|
| Farm
Equipment, Truck
Mechanics & Diesel Engine Specialists |
|
150 |
|
14.2% |
112 |
|
| Medical
& Clinic Laboratory Technicians |
|
90 |
|
20.7% |
64 |
|
| Ethanol
& Chemical Plant Technicians |
|
60 |
|
14.5% |
109 |
|
| Occupational
& Physical
Therapist Assts. |
|
50 |
|
19.7% |
35 |
|
| Welders,
Cutters, Solderers & Brazers |
|
490 |
|
-7.9% |
249 |
Postsecondary
voc. award |
| Appraisers
& Assessors of Real Estate / Title
Examiners |
|
60 |
|
9.5% |
42 |
|
| Licensed
Practical Nurses (LPNs) |
|
850 |
|
19.1% |
668 |
|
| Medical
Secretaries & Transcriptionists |
|
300 |
|
13.3% |
152 |
|
| Automotive
Service Techs & Mechanics |
|
310 |
|
-1.6% |
244 |
|
| Medical
Recs. & Health Info. Technicians |
|
120 |
|
21.6% |
123 |
|
| Nursing
Aides, Orderlies & Attendants |
|
1,770 |
|
13.8% |
558 |
|
| Hairstylists
& Cosmetologists |
|
100 |
|
27.4% |
123 |
|
| Emergency
Medical Techs & Paramedics |
|
450 |
|
18.3% |
122 |
|
| |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Occupations
Requiring Related Work Experience |
| First-line
Supervisors of Mechanics, Installation, & Repair Workers |
|
230 |
|
0.6% |
205 |
|
| Construction
Managers |
|
290 |
|
6.0% |
172 |
|
| Sales
Representatives (Wholesale, Manufacturing & Services) |
|
660 |
|
2.6% |
369 |
|
| First-line
Supervisors of Production & Operating Workers (Line Managers) |
|
540 |
|
0.7% |
258 |
|
| Executive
Secretaries & Admin. Assts. |
|
440 |
|
8.9% |
308 |
|
| Loan
Interviewers & New
Account Clerks |
|
130 |
|
4.0% |
190 |
|
| First-line
Supervisors of Retail Workers |
|
680 |
|
4.5% |
476 |
|
| First-line
Supervisors of Food Preparation Workers (Fast Food & Restaurant) |
|
540 |
|
5.2% |
100 |
|
| |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Occupations
Requiring Long-Term On-the-Job Training (more than 12 months) |
| Purchasing
Agents & Buyers (incl. Farm Products & Wholesale Trade) |
|
160 |
|
10.1% |
85 |
|
| Electrical
Powerline Installers & Repairers |
|
210 |
|
3.7% |
97 |
|
| Mobile
Heavy Equipment Mechanics |
|
150 |
|
9.1% |
112 |
|
| Boiler
Operators & Stationary Engineers |
|
60 |
|
8.7% |
35 |
|
| Electricians |
|
160 |
|
5.9% |
289 |
|
Industrial
Machinery Mechanics &
Fluid
Power Technicians |
|
330 |
|
8.0% |
259 |
|
| Police
& Sheriff's Patrol Officers |
|
340 |
|
4.6% |
469 |
|
| Cabinetmakers
& Bench Carpenters |
|
130 |
|
11.3% |
130 |
|
| Plumbers
& Pipefitters |
|
70 |
|
11.9% |
82 |
|
| Carpenters
& Construction
Laborers |
|
700 |
|
14.0% |
390 |
|
| |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Occupations
Requiring Moderate-Term On-the-Job Training (1-12 months) |
Computer-Controlled
(CNC) Machine
Tool Operators, Metal & Plastic |
|
170 |
|
8.3% |
36 |
|
| Dental
Assistants |
|
120 |
|
30.7% |
151 |
|
| Dispatchers
(Trucking, Fire, Police, etc.) |
|
120 |
|
15.2% |
42 |
|
| Mixing
& Blending Machine Setters |
|
120 |
|
20.3% |
40 |
|
| Truck
Drivers, Heavy & Tractor-Trailer |
|
1,780 |
|
13.2% |
763 |
|
| Correctional
Officers & Jailers |
|
130 |
|
4.9% |
150 |
|
| Bus
Drivers, School & Transit |
|
550 |
|
5.5% |
45 |
|
| Agricultural
Equipment Operators |
|
30 |
|
29.3% |
108 |
|
| Bookkeeping,
Accounting, & Audit Clerks |
|
1,220 |
|
6.6% |
744 |
|
| Slaughterers
& Meat Packers |
|
330 |
|
2.8% |
761 |
|
| Cooks,
Institution & Cafeteria |
|
410 |
|
8.9% |
239 |
|
| Pharmacy
Technicians |
|
170 |
|
28.2% |
204 |
|
| Farmworkers
& Laborers (Crop & Animal) |
|
950 |
|
0.0% |
184 |
|
| Medical
Assistants |
|
170 |
|
29.6% |
183 |
|
| Customer
Service Representatives |
|
520 |
|
14.8% |
879 |
|
| Social
& Human Service Assistants |
|
480 |
|
18.7% |
659 |
|
| Laundry
& Dry-Cleaning Workers |
|
160 |
|
1.5% |
84 |
|
| |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Occupations
Requiring Short-Term On-the-Job Training (1 month or less) |
| Trash
& Recyclable Material Collectors |
|
60 |
|
26.4% |
97 |
|
| Bill
& Account Collectors |
|
150 |
|
8.0% |
28 |
|
| Shipping,
Receiving, & Traffic Clerks |
|
310 |
|
-9.7% |
209 |
|
| Personal
& Home Care Aides |
|
420 |
|
40.1% |
1,929 |
|
| Route
Salespersons, Drivers |
|
350 |
|
1.9% |
153 |
|
| Janitors,
Maids/Housekeeping
Cleaners |
|
1,100 |
|
2.4% |
900 |
|
| Teacher
Assistants |
|
1,430 |
|
3.8% |
403 |
|
| Laborers
& Freight/Stock Movers, Hand |
|
950 |
|
-2.1% |
790 |
|
| Tellers |
|
340 |
|
9.2% |
561 |
|
| General
Office Clerks |
|
1,600 |
|
9.3% |
1,402 |
|
| Home
Health Aides |
|
1,560 |
|
42.0% |
793 |
|
| Retail
Salespersons |
|
1,330 |
|
7.1% |
1,939 |
|
| Cashiers
& Counter
& Rental Clerks |
|
2,110 |
|
2.2% |
2,187 |
|
| Fast
Food Prep & Serving Workers |
|
1,670 |
|
14.9% |
1,419 |
|
| Waiters
& Waitresses |
|
1,020 |
|
6.0% |
1,796 |
|
Source:
Minnesota
Dept. of Employment & Economic Development
2010 Median Annual Salary Data from the 2010 Minnesota
Salary Survey for Region 6W and Region 8
Current Demand Data from the Occupations
in Demand Tool for Region 6W and Region 8
Projected Employment Data from the 2009-2019 Minnesota
Employment Projections Program |
|