Manufacturing Month in Minnesota
Manufacturing is the backbone of Minnesota’s economy – it accounts for 12% of the state’s gross domestic product and 11% of the state’s total employment – and it has ripple effects throughout the entire economy. The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) reports that for every $1 spent in manufacturing, there is a total impact of $2.64 to the overall U.S. economy. In addition, NAM calculates that for every one worker in manufacturing, 4.8 workers are added in the overall U.S. economy and for every $1 earned in direct labor income in the manufacturing sector, $3.92 in labor income earned is added to the overall U.S. economy, through the purchasing power of people working in the manufacturing sector spending at stores, restaurants and in other ways.
Manufacturing workers took home $26.7 billion in wages from Minnesota manufacturing jobs last year, the second-largest total payroll among all industries in the state. In Minnesota, workers in the manufacturing industry earn an average annual wage of just under $83,280, which is $9,000 (12%) higher than the state’s overall average wage in 2024. This is a family sustaining wage for most families in Minnesota. For all of these reasons and more, Minnesota celebrates October as Manufacturing Month. Visit CareerForce.MN.gov/Manufacturing for more information.
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.
Manufacturing is vital to the Seven-County Twin Cities Metro Area's labor market and economy. With nearly 173,000 jobs at about 4,000 establishments, it is the second largest-employing industry sector in the region. In fact, one in ten Metro Area jobs are in Manufacturing. With a total payroll of $16.2 billion in 2024, it was the second highest of all industries.
Northeast Minnesota's Manufacturing sector is changing. This has been the case for decades as local, regional and even global trends influence what gets built, where it gets built and by whom. In 2024 there were 9,231 Manufacturing jobs in the region, accounting for about 6.6% of total employment, the smallest such concentration of the six regions in the state.
Northwest's Manufacturing industry continues to hold strong. The industry accounts for 13% of total jobs and 16% of total wages. The much higher-than-average wages reflect the high value added by this industry. In the Northwest region, manufacturing workers earn an average annual wage of $66,092, which is 24% higher than the $53,404 average across all industries combined.
Manufacturing remains Southeast Minnesota's second largest industry, with 35,968 jobs across 659 firms, representing 14.6% of total jobs in the region. While the sector experienced a decline of 2,766 jobs from 2019 to 2024, representing a 7.1% decrease, wages have continued to rise, averaging $77,480, which is well above the regional average of $66,560. With many job vacancies available throughout the region, Manufacturing continues to offer promising career paths for job seekers.
The Manufacturing sector currently employs 29,843 jobs across 610 firms in Southwest Minnesota, 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 the industry has faced headwinds in recent years, new employment projections through 2032 signal a turnaround ahead for the region's second-largest industry.
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