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Governor Proclaims April Technology Workforce Month in Minnesota

DEED and partners will highlight jobs in technology through events and resources

St. Paul – Governor Tim Walz has proclaimed April 2021 Technology Month in Minnesota. It’s an opportunity to draw attention to our technology sector and workforce and its importance to Minnesota’s economy. While the importance of these jobs has been highlighted during the pandemic, technology workers have been in demand in Minnesota’s economy for a long time and represent some of the highest-paid, best jobs in our state.

According to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Labor Market Information (LMI) Office, the state of Minnesota is home to about 110,000 people working in Information Technology occupations. That’s about 3.8% of total employment in Minnesota, while the national average for such occupations is about 3.4%.

“Minnesota’s reputation as a leader in innovation is growing rapidly,” said DEED Commissioner Steve Grove. “We want to make sure that more Minnesotans know about the great career opportunities here in tech, and we want to help Minnesota employers build the talent pipelines they need to grow and thrive in our state.”

“While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact lives and disrupt our economy in ways we couldn’t have imagined a year ago, it has also highlighted the important role of technology in society today. Technology is enabling the remote workforce keeping our economy afloat, the distance learning keeping students on track, telemedicine helping to maintain community health, and the communication tools keeping us connected,” said Jeff Tollefson, President & CEO, Minnesota Technology Association. “We look forward to shining a light on this critical industry sector during Minnesota Tech Month.”

DEED’s data points to a continued trend toward well-above-average growth in demand for technology workers in Minnesota. For example, DEED projects employment in computer occupations to grow 10.5% between 2018 and 2028, while the average growth of all occupations in Minnesota is 4.7%. 

Because of the high demand for technology workers, wages in these occupations are higher than for most occupations in Minnesota. The median hourly wage for technology occupations was $42.71 an hour in 2020 – that's over $20 an hour higher than the median for all occupations in the state. 

It takes education and training to prepare for most technology careers. The vast majority of technology occupations require at least some postsecondary education, with most requiring a bachelor’s degree.

Minnesotans who find themselves out of work from other fields may want to consider reskilling to land an entry-level technology job. CareerForce staff can help Minnesotans determine whether they are eligible for tuition assistance.  

During the entire month of April, DEED and our workforce development partners in CareerForce are working together with industry leaders, employers, educators and others to highlight the many opportunities in Information Technology, help overcome educational and other barriers to those who want to pursue a career in Information Technology, and encourage Minnesotans to explore this in-demand career field.

DEED’s Immigrant and Refugee Affairs and Vocational Rehabilitation Services teams will provide specific resources to invite New Americans and people with disabilities to explore IT careers. And we’re working with employers to overcome barriers to hiring – from unnecessary minimum requirements to unwarranted concerns about disability accommodations. 

As Governor Walz proclaimed: “Information Technology is critically important to Minnesota’s economy and a key component of an innovative and dynamic ecosystem critical to the state’s current and future economic success.” Raising awareness about employment opportunities in Information Technology and breaking down barriers to tech jobs will help more Minnesotans get started on this promising career path.

Find out more about technology employment in Minnesota, get information about Tech Month virtual events and access other related resources on the Tech Month page on CareerForceMN.com.

DEED is the state's principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development. For more details about the agency and its services, visit the DEED website or follow us on Twitter.

 

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