According to O'Connor, there are two main reasons for this increase. Job prospects look best in non-durable goods manufacturing, finance, insurance and real estate. Education also has a healthy job outlook, with music being the strongest area. UW-River Falls students can take advantage of this increase in employment, according to Carmen Croonquist, Career Services Coordinator. Students should get out there and take risks.
Current figures suggest that it is a good time to find jobs.
In Minneapolis alone, nearly 55 percent of businesses plan to increase the size of their workforce during the fourth quarter of 2000. This statistic shows nearly a 15 percent increase of businesses wanting to expand over the previous year. In other areas, Winona ranked second behind Minneapolis with a 40 percent planned expansion, and Rochester third at 30 percent. As good as the job outlook is, a few communities in Minnesota may be cutting as many jobs as they are hiring. In Alexandria, only 23 percent of local businesses plan to increase their workforces while a survey-high 17 percent plan on decreasing the number of employees.