Minneapolis Job Market Resilient Amidst National Slowdowns, Targets Growth in Healthcare, Tech, and Cannabis

The Minneapolis job market remains resilient amid national slowdowns, with Minnesota's unemployment rate at 4.0 percent in November 2025 according to the Versique November Employment Trends report, below the U.S. rate of 4.6 percent from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment grew modestly, adding jobs in construction by 3,200, trade and utilities by 2,200, and education and health by 1,200, while labor force participation reached 68.2 percent per the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development or DEED. Major industries include healthcare, manufacturing, and retail, anchored by Fortune 500 employers like Target, UnitedHealth Group, General Mills, Cargill, and Best Buy. Growing sectors feature healthcare, infrastructure, essential services, and cannabis, where the Office of Cannabis Management licensed over 24 cultivation businesses by late 2025, driving $122.5 million in sales. Trends show divergence, with skill-based roles in IT and hands-on jobs outperforming amid AI shifts and a competitive market per Monster's 2026 Job Market Outlook.

Recent developments include ICE enforcement raids disrupting small businesses on Lake Street, causing closures, reduced hours, and sales drops as reported by Reuters on January 16, 2026, while large corporations stay silent, impacting the $350 billion regional economy according to the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce. Seasonal patterns reflect construction peaks in warmer months, with commuting trends favoring hybrid office returns like Target's three-day mandate per CBS Minnesota. DEED initiatives awarded $1.6 million in workforce grants to 23 organizations for adult training. Market evolution points to private sector growth outpacing national stagnation, though long-term unemployment rises and data gaps exist on 2026 projections beyond early cannabis metrics.

Key findings highlight Minnesota's outperformance through targeted hiring in resilient sectors despite immigration-related disruptions and national job stalls averaging 49,000 monthly in 2025. Current openings include registered nurse at UnitedHealth Group, software engineer at Best Buy, and construction laborer at local firms via MinnesotaWorks.net.

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