According to Mr. Stinson, about 88 percent of all people here between the ages of 16 and 65 are currently working. But amid these clouds of uncertainty, Stinson says, there are rays of light. Minnesota's economy was one of the first to lift itself out of the recession of the early 1990s, he notes, so it's not surprising that it would be one of the first to exhaust its labor supply. What's more, he says, the productivity of Minnesota's work force has overcome the state's heavy tax burden and geographical isolation. The labor shortage, he continues, will force Minnesota to ensure that its workers receive the resources and training they need.
Some efforts are already under way.
According to Andrea Lubov, a consulting economist with Anton and Associates in Minneapolis, many companies have forged partnerships with high schools and community colleges to set up training programs. Two major state foundations have teamed up to make housing loans to companies that employ local people, and the state is investing in programs to assist welfare recipients entering the job market. We offer them for your additional research.