Manufacturing Week Highlights State's Largest Industry

To highlight the importance of manufacturing, Governor Mark Dayton issued a proclamation declaring the week of October 1-7, 2017 to be Minnesota Manufacturing Week.

Manufacturing is the state’s largest industry by gross domestic product (GDP). It supports 318,000 Minnesota jobs, while contributing $48.2 billion to the state’s economy. This output represents 16 percent of Minnesota’s private gross domestic product. Manufacturing accounted for about $18 billion in state exports in 2016.

Minnesota Manufacturing Week acknowledges and honors the important role manufacturers and their workers play in state’s economy. Plant tours of manufacturing facilities around the state, speakers, and educational activities are planned for this week and throughout the month.

“We want people to be aware of the dynamic career opportunities that exist in manufacturing across the state – and the family-sustaining wages they pay,” said DEED Commissioner Shawntera Hardy. “DEED also partners with businesses and educational institutions to ensure that manufacturers can find the skilled workers they need to thrive and to grow their businesses.”

Manufacturing accounts for one in nine jobs in the state. When you add in jobs in other industries that are dependent on manufacturing, each manufacturing job generates another 2.21 jobs in other segments of the economy.

DEED joins the manufacturing industry collaborative “Dream It. Do It. Minnesota” in sponsoring Minnesota Manufacturers Week. A list of tours available can be found here. Go to the DEED websitefor more details about Minnesota Manufacturing Week.

Continue to full article learn facts about manufacturing in Minnesota.