Downtown Workers

[uptown_urbanist]

It's more than just percentage of jobs. Downtown has a lot of professional workers and corporate headquarters. Bloomington obviously had lots of workers, including professional, but it's silly to suggest that it approaches downtown Minneapolis in terms of importance. And that article you cite is dated 2011. I got the figure from this article Downtown Mpls employment is up - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal also a bit outdated, but at least from this year. Downtown Minneapolis still has a larger percentage of jobs than any one other place, and as such, holds major significance that can't be discounted. That doesn't mean that it's the ONLY place of economic significance. St. Paul, obviously, is important, as are the major companies located in various suburbs.

The region as a whole benefits when the urban core is perceived as being strong. That's not any kind of suburb versus city thing; the 'burbs benefit when downtown is strong, too. Who wants to be seen as somewhere like Detroit (fair or not to Detroit)? Downtown represents the Twin Cities to people from elsewhere. There's been much written about the role that a good downtown can have when it comes to recruiting talent from elsewhere, even if the company itself is located out in the 'burbs, and even if the prospective employees don't plan on living downtown or even in city limits. If the city -- the core city and its downtown -- has a good reputation, that is going to rub off on its suburbs. Because really, how many people have ever heard of most of the Twin Cities suburbs if they haven't lived here?

[StanleyVegas]

Originally Posted by 1stpontiac

The article you link to states 138,000 works downtown, not just in Minneapolis:

Downtown is a bit less than half the total employment of Minneapolis (281k as of 2010)

[QuietBlue]

Originally Posted by uptown_urbanist

There's been much written about the role that a good downtown can have when it comes to recruiting talent from elsewhere, even if the company itself is located out in the 'burbs, and even if the prospective employees don't plan on living downtown or even in city limits.

Yep. There's rather a large difference between Minneapolis and Bentonville, AR.

[HiFi]

I would be curious to see the percentage-share of downtown in employment dollars (sum of salaries), not simply number of jobs. It would kill anyplace else.

[Ghengis]

Originally Posted by HiFi

I would be curious to see the percentage-share of downtown in employment dollars (sum of salaries), not simply number of jobs. It would kill anyplace else.

true, especially if you counted the pan-handlers.

[Dr.drew]

How many workers does downtown Saint Paul have? I'm just wondering.

[spectre000]

Originally Posted by Dr.drew

How many workers does downtown Saint Paul have? I'm just wondering.

Somewhere in the neighborhood of 40-45,000 I think.

[Min-Chi-Cbus]

I'd go as far as to say that Minneapolis is one of the few places where I would ENDORSE living in but NOT necessarily working in. Its central location and accessibility make it extremely attractive if you a.) don't know where you'll be working in 5 years, or b.) want to live in the city but HAVE TO work in the suburbs (or St. Paul).

I think it works very well that way!

[Min-Chi-Cbus]

Originally Posted by StanleyVegas

Downtown is a bit less than half the total employment of Minneapolis (281k as of 2010)

The U of M is THE largest employer in the city and I believe the state as well.....that's why.

[rogead]

According to MnDEED, there are about 195,000 jobs in Downtown Minneapolis---with 130,000 of those located in the CBD (Downtown West). Downtown St Paul has about 45,000 private-sector jobs, with another 15,000 or so in state employment--with almost 50,000 of that total in the CBD. There are about 310,000 total jobs within Minneapolis, and another 175,000 in St Paul proper. Bloomington has about 90,000 jobs (13,000 of those at MOA); and The U of M accounts for about 25,000 jobs. Once the Green Line (Central Corridor) is operational, over one-third of all metro area jobs will be easily-accessible via rail.

According to this study, the Central Corridor alone, contains 42% of all business addresses and 15% of all residential addresses in Minneapolis-St Paul:

Trends - Ask a Researcher - Andi Egbert - Minnesota Compass

This site (operated by The Wilder Foundation) contains a massive amount of demographic information for Minnesota: jobs, education, economic production, transportation, health, etc.

Minnesota Compass - Measuring Progress Inspiring Action