Manufacturing is a powerhouse in Central Minnesota's economy, accounting for more than one in every seven jobs in the region. In 2024, Central Minnesota was home to nearly 1,200 manufacturing establishments employing around 41,000 people.  That's significantly above the statewide concentration and reflects the vital role manufacturing plays in the regional economy.

Across the state, manufacturing remains Minnesota's second‑largest employer, contributing 11% of all jobs, or one in every nine jobs. At the same time, modern production has evolved: these jobs require more skills, technical training, and offer solid career ladders, from machine operators and production technicians to engineers and managers.

Figure 1 illustrates the broad variety of manufacturing activity in Central Minnesota, with jobs spread across specialties as varied as Food Manufacturing, Transportation Equipment Manufacturing, Paper Manufacturing, and Chemical Manufacturing. At $69,212 per year, Manufacturing offers average annual wages well above the $56,940 average across the entire regional economy.

Source: DEED, QCEW

Recent trends confirm strong demand: Central Minnesota posted nearly 1,200 manufacturing openings in 2024, with starting wages typically just over $21.50 per hour, or nearly $45,000 per year for a full-time worker.

Local wages are competitive: in Central Minnesota, production occupations typically pay roughly $20 per hour for people early in their career to nearly $35 per hour for manufacturing workers who have mastered skills and gained experience. Figure 2 highlights some of the most in demand occupations in Manufacturing.

Source: DEED, Career Pathways

To attract more workers, communities are actively partnering with schools and associations like the Central Minnesota Manufacturers Association (CMMA)  and Vex Robotics to promote youth apprenticeships, summer camps and K‑12 STEM initiatives tied to manufacturing. These programs give high school students hands-on access to equipment, engineering, robotics and career exposure, bridging classroom learning with real-world jobs.

Manufacturing in Central Minnesota provides a compelling mix of good pay, technical learning, purposeful work and strong community support. Whether you're drawn to hands-on work with machinery, digital fabrication, quality control or engineering, there's a place for you in building the region's innovation and your future.

And if manufacturing isn't a part of your long-term goals, you will find that careers in manufacturing offer opportunities to find success in a variety of future career paths, from marketing, human resources, sales and management to accounting, production and logistics.

For students contemplating what's next for them, this Launch Your Future Today video helps think through various paths to success following high school. October is Manufacturing Month in Minnesota, and you can find resources, including information about career exploration and hiring events, being highlighted throughout the month and around the state at CareerForce.MN.gov/Manufacturing.

For more information about manufacturing and Manufacturing Month in Central Minnesota, contact Luke Griener at Luke.Greiner@state.mn.us.