Career exploration is all about gathering information. What are you interested in doing? Are any of those jobs available? How much do those occupations pay? Do you have the education or training needed for those jobs? This website was designed by the Southwest Minnesota WorkForce Council to help you answer these career exploration questions. But there is another important piece of information to consider: Where do you want to live? Job availability depends on where you live.

For example, if you wanted to be a welder or a machinist, it would be important for you to know that 18 percent of the jobs in Southwest Minnesota are in the manufacturing industry – especially when you compare that to only 13 percent statewide. And, demand for welders has remained high while employment in manufacturing increased five times as fast in Southwest Minnesota as in the rest of the state over the last 3 years. That's a big difference! It increases your chances of finding a job in this area. Likewise, if you want to start a career in the health care field, you will be excited to know that health care and social assistance is projected to add nearly 2,500 jobs - a 22.6% growth rate - in the region this decade!

While the 100 occupations featured below are great choices because of their current and future demand in the region, should you limit your occupational choices to this list? No! Choosing a career is a very personal decision and you should still take into consideration all aspects of a career when you’re making a choice, such as educational requirements, annual wages, and your personality style and work values. In fact, the state of Minnesota tracks more than 770 different occupations, many of which are available in Southwest Minnesota even though they did not make this list of hot jobs. For additional information on how to plan your career and conduct an effective job search, please contact your local Minnesota WorkForce Center.

(Occupational titles are links to ISEEK career information pages that will open in a new window,
where you can study the career description, work activities, and plan your education)

Occupations in Demand in Southwest Minnesota, Sorted by Current Demand (Alphabetical List)
Occupations With Large Unmet Current Demand
Registered Nurses	$52,316	1,260	Large	530	1,141	Assoc./Bachelor's degree
Carpenters	$44,706	1,210	Large	390	583	Long-term on-the-job training
Business Operations Specialists	$42,245	1,080	Large	420	972	Bachelor's degree
Plumbers, Pipefitters, & Steamfitters	$41,367	130	Large	70	119	Long-term on-the-job training
Community & Social Service Assistants	$40,589	500	Large	170	435	Bachelor's degree
Correctional Officers & Jailers	$33,582	190	Large	100	152	Moderate on-the-job training
Truck Drivers, Heavy & Tractor-Trailer	$33,138	1,810	Large	740	1,312	Moderate on-the-job training
Customer Service Representatives	$31,269	460	Large	310	708	Moderate on-the-job training
Farmworkers & Laborers (Crop & Animal)	$30,742	670	Large	810	949	Short-term on-the-job training
Bus Drivers, School & Transit	$29,194	470	Large	200	200	Short-term on-the-job training
First-line Supervisors of Retail Workers	$26,874	670	Large	390	410	Related work experience
Precision Assemblers & Fabricators (incl. Electrical & Electronic Equip.)	$25,407	1,220	Large	700	876	Moderate on-the-job training
Cooks, Restaurant & Short Order	$23,482	350	Large	540	693	Moderate on-the-job training
Meat, Poultry & Fish Cutters & Trimmers	$22,922	290	Large	160	305	Short-term on-the-job training
Nursing Aides, Orderlies & Attendants	$22,311	1,810	Large	530	974	Postsecondary voc. award
Stock Clerks & Order Fillers	$21,943	740	Large	740	740	Short-term on-the-job training
Packers & Packagers, Hand	$21,858	360	Large	340	492	Short-term on-the-job training
Tellers	$21,725	490	Large	590	746	Short-term on-the-job training
Home Health Aides	$20,252	580	Large	230	1,112	Short-term on-the-job training
Retail Salespersons	$20,057	1,800	Large	2,070	2,719	Short-term on-the-job training
Waiters & Waitresses	$19,975	960	Large	1,500	1,872	Short-term on-the-job training
Combined Food Prep & Serving Workers	$19,563	1,900	Large	2,500	3,184	Short-term on-the-job training
Cashiers and Counter & Rental Clerks	$16,417	2,370	Large	2,670	2,670	Short-term on-the-job training
Occupations With Medium Unmet Current Demand
Financial Managers	$82,526	220	Medium	70	158	Bachelor's or higher degree
Medical & Health Services Managers	$67,420	150	Medium	60	108	Bachelor's or higher degree
Industrial Engineers	$58,812	80	Medium	40	78	Bachelor's degree
Radiologic Technologists & Technicians	$53,082	90	Medium	40	93	Associate degree
Special Education Teachers	$47,145	160	Medium	110	150	Bachelor's degree
Sales Representatives (Mfg. & Services)	$44,523	660	Medium	420	627	Moderate on-the-job training
Boiler Operators & Stationary Engineers	$43,389	150	Medium	30	43	Long-term on-the-job training
Accountants & Auditors	$43,284	480	Medium	280	572	Bachelor's degree
Machinists	$43,422	90	Medium	90	120	Long-term on-the-job training
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers	$41,840	390	Medium	250	283	Long-term on-the-job training
Laboratory Technicians	$35,672	100	Medium	30	52	Associate degree
Wind Energy Technicians & Mechanics	$35,360	125	Large	60	185	Associate degree
Farm Equipment Mechanics	$34,757	230	Medium	120	131	Postsecondary voc. award
Licensed Practical Nurses	$34,136	950	Medium	470	617	Postsecondary voc. award
Industrial Machinery Mechanics	$33,802	260	Medium	160	266	Long-term on-the-job training
Exec. Secretaries & Admin. Assistants	$33,545	420	Medium	170	224	Moderate on-the-job training
Welders, Cutters, Solderers & Brazers	$32,745	480	Medium	320	370	Long-term on-the-job training
Secretaries, Exc. Legal, Medical & Exec.	$31,363	250	Medium	170	170	Moderate on-the-job training
Medical Recs. & Health Info. Technicians	$30,414	120	Medium	40	121	Associate degree
Packaging & Filling Machine Operators	$28,546	410	Medium	200	200	Short-term on-the-job training
Laborers and Freight & Stock Movers	$25,162	900	Medium	710	710	Short-term on-the-job training
General Office Clerks	$21,875	1,680	Medium	1,040	1,245	Short-term on-the-job training
Teacher Assistants	$21,634	1,170	Medium	460	491	Short-term on-the-job training
Receptionists & Information Clerks	$21,548	560	Medium	420	603	Short-term on-the-job training
Maids & Housekeeping Cleaners	$20,583	770	Medium	400	552	Short-term on-the-job training
Cleaners of Vehicles & Equipment	$19,987	440	Medium	240	297	Short-term on-the-job training
Bartenders	$17,470	540	Medium	570	599	Short-term on-the-job training
Occupations With Small Unmet Current Demand
Family & General Practitioners	$166,000	120	Small	40	117	First professional degree
Pharmacists	$106,826	70	Small	40	83	First professional degree
Industrial Production Managers	$77,958	140	Small	60	82	Related work experience
Dental Hygienists	$69,534	110	Small	30	118	Associate degree
Computer Software Engineers	$67,621	30	Small	40	213	Bachelor's degree
General & Operations Managers	$65,175	790	Small	390	622	Bachelor's or higher degree
Food Scientists & Technologists	$61,651	80	Small	20	59	Bachelor's degree
Loan Officers	$56,969	280	Small	110	212	Bachelor's degree
Construction Managers	$51,708	70	Small	60	80	Bachelor's degree
Elem. & Secondary School Teachers	$49,309	910	Small	780	780	Bachelor's degree
First-line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installation, & Repair Workers	$47,481	240	Small	180	273	Related work experience
Network & Computer Systems Admins.	$45,890	110	Small	40	154	Bachelor's degree
Purchasing Agents & Buyers (incl. Farm Products & Wholesale Trade)	$45,365	160	Small	80	112	Related work experience
First-line Supervisors of Transportation & Material Moving Workers	$43,954	250	Small	130	186	Related work experience
Electricians	$42,741	330	Small	160	221	Long-term on-the-job training
Human Resources & Training Specialists	$39,728	140	Small	60	143	Bachelor's degree
First-line Supervisors of Production & Operating Workers	$39,297	550	Small	340	492	Related work experience
Bus & Truck Mechanics & Diesel Engine Specialists	$38,708	210	Small	140	203	Postsecondary voc. award
Cost Estimators	$38,397	120	Small	70	115	Related work experience
Highway Maintenance Workers	$36,837	390	Small	90	160	Moderate on-the-job training
Insurance Sales Agents	$36,705	80	Small	170	317	Bachelor's degree
Water & Liquid Waste Treatment Plant & System Operators	$36,650	140	Small	180	188	Long-term on-the-job training
First-line Supervisors of Personal Care & Service Workers	$36,442	160	Small	100	178	Related work experience
Cement Masons & Concrete Finishers	$35,320	40	Small	40	76	Moderate on-the-job training
Construction Equipment Operators	$35,299	500	Small	170	297	Moderate on-the-job training
Computer Support Specialists	$35,027	130	Small	40	83	Associate degree
Heating, Air Cond., & Refrig. Mechanics	$34,920	40	Small	40	96	Long-term on-the-job training
Fluid Power Technicians	$34,819	250	Small	160	266	Associate degree
Food Service Managers	$34,552	90	Small	60	86	Related work experience
Social & Human Service Assistants	$34,299	400	Small	120	312	Moderate on-the-job training
Agricultural & Food Science Technicians	$33,634	130	Small	30	69	Associate degree
Production, Planning & Expediting Clerks	$33,341	100	Small	70	92	Short-term on-the-job training
Automotive Service Techs & Mechanics	$32,263	280	Small	320	440	Postsecondary voc. award
Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operators, Metal & Plastic	$30,347	120	Small	50	85	Moderate on-the-job training
General Maintenance & Repair Workers	$29,672	410	Small	300