EXCERPT: “Although Minnesota unemployment numbers have been on a roller coaster during the COVID-19 pandemic, the bulk of those without work have been concentrated in a handful of occupations that are directly affected by pandemic shutdowns. This mirrors national employment trends. In rural Minnesota, unemployment is highest for workers in food preparation, sales positions, and office and administrative support. However, jobs across a wide range of occupation groups still sit unfilled in the less-populated regions, not because workers have been laid off, but because employers in many rural areas continue to search for workers with the right skill sets. At the end of November 2020, rural Minnesota (except for the central part of the state) had the highest number of occupation groups with more job postings than unemployment claims, according to job data from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).” FULL STORY: https://fluence-media.co/3rKAccp
