Southwest Minnesota is a national leader in agricultural production, and renewable energy.
The region's thriving manufacturing sector includes food processing, machinery, printing, metal products, and computers and electronic products.
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Southwest Minnesota's manufacturing industry tells a complex story of recent challenges and future promise.
9/15/2025 10:57:58 AM
Amanda Blaschko, Luke Greiner
Southwest Minnesota's manufacturing industry tells a complex story of recent challenges and future promise. While the industry has faced headwinds in recent years, losing 1,504 jobs since 2019, new employment projections through 2032 signal a turnaround ahead for the region's second-largest industry.
The Manufacturing sector currently employs 29,843 jobs across 610 firms, generating nearly $2 billion in total payroll, with an average annual wage of $66,664, significantly higher than the regional average of $54,132. While overall manufacturing employment has declined 4.8% since 2019, the picture varies dramatically across subsectors.
Seven of the fourteen manufacturing subsectors have surpassed their pre-pandemic employment levels, with Machinery Manufacturing leading recent growth at an additional 218 jobs (6.8%), followed by Wood Product Manufacturing with 127 jobs (11.7%), Beverage & Tobacco Product Manufacturing with 115 jobs (26.1%), Chemical Manufacturing with 59 jobs (5.6%), Miscellaneous Manufacturing with 42 jobs (4.6%), Fabricated Metal Products with 19 jobs (0.9%) and Nonmetallic Mineral Products with 15 jobs (1.0%).
| Manufacturing Industry Statistic in Southwest Minnesota, 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | 2024 | 2019-2024 | ||||
| Number of Jobs | Number of Firms | Total Payroll | Avg. Annual Wage | Numeric Change | Percent Change | |
| Total, All Industries | 173,102 | 13,029 | $9,375,525,127 | $54,132 | -3,502 | -2.0% |
| Manufacturing | 29,843 | 610 | $1,989,247,878 | $66,664 | -1,504 | -4.8% |
| Food Manufacturing | 10,636 | 115 | $719,355,826 | $67,756 | -459 | -4.1% |
| Machinery Manufacturing | 3,421 | 61 | $237,178,572 | $69,316 | 218 | 6.8% |
| Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 2,136 | 97 | $136,066,578 | $63,700 | 19 | 0.9% |
| Electrical Equip., Appliance & Component Mfg. | 2,105 | 18 | $150,872,580 | $71,656 | -11 | -0.5% |
| Printing & Related Support Activities | 1,989 | 60 | $101,727,325 | $51,116 | -973 | -32.8% |
| Computer & Electronic Product Manufacturing | 1,542 | 15 | $108,726,070 | $70,512 | -235 | -13.2% |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 1,527 | 43 | $123,940,688 | $81,016 | 15 | 1.0% |
| Wood Product Manufacturing | 1,208 | 34 | $75,899,878 | $62,816 | 127 | 11.7% |
| Chemical Manufacturing | 1,117 | 27 | $100,561,064 | $90,116 | 59 | 5.6% |
| Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 948 | 39 | $54,881,454 | $57,876 | 42 | 4.6% |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 944 | 22 | $59,509,676 | $63,024 | -101 | -9.7% |
| Plastics & Rubber Products Manufacturing | 770 | 19 | $45,197,235 | $58,708 | -244 | -24.1% |
| Beverage & Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 555 | 19 | $22,059,883 | $39,728 | 115 | 26.1% |
| Primary Metal Manufacturing | 476 | 6 | $31,321,028 | $66,144 | -92 | -16.2% |
| Furniture & Related Product Manufacturing | 328 | 23 | $15,182,267 | $46,332 | 26 | 8.6% |
| Source: Quarterly Census of Employment & Wages | ||||||
Despite recent challenges, employment projections for 2022-2032 paint an optimistic picture for Southwest Minnesota's manufacturing industry. The industry is projected to add 1,345 new jobs, representing a 4.2% increase that signals a strong recovery ahead. When examining occupational projections, Food Batchmakers lead projected growth, followed by Packaging & Filling Machine Operators, Slaughterers & Meat Packers, Meat, Poultry & Fish Cutters, and Welders, Cutters, Solderers & Brazers.
However, opportunities extend beyond new job creation. Retirements and career transitions will generate significant hiring needs, with some occupations seeing total hiring opportunities that far exceed their new job numbers. For example, Slaughterers and Meat Packers show 1,946 total openings projected through 2032, where new jobs represent just 3.8% of total hires, while labor force exits account for 40.4% and occupational transfers make up 55.8%. This pattern repeats across all production occupations, indicating substantial turnover and advancement opportunities within the field.
Southwest Minnesota's manufacturing industry demonstrates both resilience in weathering recent economic storms and adaptability in positioning for future growth. With competitive wages, diverse subsectors from food processing to machinery production, and strong projected job growth in key occupations, manufacturing continues to offer excellent career opportunities for regional workers.
October is Manufacturing Month in Minnesota. You can find many Manufacturing Month resources, including information about career exploration and hiring events taking place throughout the month around the state at CareerForce.MN.gov/Manufacturing.
For more information about Manufacturing in Southwest Minnesota, contact Luke Greiner at Luke.Greiner@state.mn.us or Amanda Blaschko at Amanda.Blaschko@state.mn.us.
