APG Specialty Publications METRONORTH_WORKS_19_DE | Page 9

A Tight Labor Market
While Anoka County continues to witness
employment growth, its unemployment
rate continues to drop. As of annual 2018,
the county had an unemployment rate of
2.8 percent. This was the lowest annual rate
in 18 years. With such low unemployment,
employers across the county are dealing
with the challenges of an ever-tighter
labor market. In other words, there aren’t
enough workers to fill current job vacancies.
In Anoka County, those occupations
with the most job vacancies include
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers,
Registered Nurses, Retail Salespersons,
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Salespersons,
Elementary School Teachers, Stock Clerks
and Order Fillers, Customer Service
Representatives, Nursing Assistants, Social
and Human Service Assistants, and Personal
Care Aides.
With Anoka County’s high concentrations
of employment in Fabricated Metal Product
Manufacturing, Computer and Electronic
Product Manufacturing, Specialty Trade
Contractors, Repair and Maintenance, and
Construction of Buildings, there is also high
demand for numerous production and
construction jobs. Welders, CNC Operators,
Machinists, Carpenters, Electricians,
Plumbers, Construction Equipment
Operators, Construction Managers, Industrial
Engineers, Automotive Service Technicians,
and the list goes on.
Anoka County’s tight labor market and
continued employment growth promise
students and current job-seekers countless
educational and career pathways. School
districts, teachers, parents, and students
should continue to keep an eye on the
county’s employment trends and in-demand
occupations to make the best, most-
informed decisions.
Anoka County Employment Trends, 2000-2018
MetroNorth Works |
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