In Praise of MN's Economy! (Duluth, Rochester: job market, high school, university)

[What!]

I know I tend to rag on my own state sometimes and whine but there a lot of positives about it, so I decided to make this thread. Lately, within the past year, I've been meeting yokels from Kansas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, and other states in the midwest and I've been getting a little irritated about some of their comments. Example:

Me: "So what is it like living in Oklahoma?"
Out of state yokel: "Oh, it's pretty nice. The people there are friendly. Sure, I've met some friendly people here but they aren't as friendly as us Oklahomans. Living there is cheaper. On the pay I make here I could live a lot more easier in Oklahoma than Minnesota. Also our weather is also a lot warmer. You don't need snowplows in April. GUFFAW!"
Me: "And how are the job options? Are they any good? Are they better than Minnesota's job options?"

And that's when they shut up!

I'm tired of all these folks coming in and bragging about their state. You love your hometown, great. I've got a fondness for my place too. I hope no one will get angry with me for my straightforwardness and lack of modesty when I say MINNESOTA KICKS ALL YALL WHEN IT COMES TO HAVING A GREAT ECONOMY! Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and the rest of these places have nothing on Minnesota.

I'm really happy because I recently got a job after months of searching. And not only that, my work history stinks. I've been in and out of four colleges (St. Cloud, Mankato, Normandale, and MCTC) and since '03 I've worked at over a dozen jobs, all of them I quit without working a full year, and I still got a job that pays $15 an hour. Granted, I lied on my resume, nor is it the best job ever, but I doubt I could have done the same things in those other states. If you've ever been to the states I mentioned you'd find out that the job options are low and the pay is generally lower. Kansas City isn't anything to brag about in terms of variety. Heck, Kansas City makes St. Cloud look positively cosmopolitan.

So, does anyone want to agree with me that MN kicks ass when it comes to education and economy? Or does anyone disagree? Discuss.

[icewater]

Yeah, they come in from all corners of the midwest: ND, SD, IOWA, Wisconsin, NEB. Often in search of jobs or the bright lights big city that the TCs have. And yeah, the education is top shelf, with the first-time-out-of-the-nesters getting exposed to an excellent university AND an excellent city. The lower level schools are also much better than elsewhere. I'm glad that outsiders see MN as a beacon of opportunity, and I'm glad that the cold freezes out the wannabes

[nick is rulz]

The market is good here but Chicagos job market takes a steaming crap on it.

[What!]

Originally Posted by nick is rulz

The market is good here but Chicagos job market takes a steaming crap on it.

Yes, but that is one large, congested city. Heck, sometimes Chicago does not even seem like it is part of the rest of Illinois because the rest of the state is so lifeless. Also, MN has less crime, better education, more tranquility, and less traffic. How can you compare a city to a state?

[nick is rulz]

Originally Posted by What!

sometimes Chicago does not even seem like it is part of the rest of Illinois because the rest of the state is so lifeless.

the same applies for Minnesota. Beyond the metro area with the exception of maybe Rochester there is no economic growth taking place. Duluths job market is basically a joke and the rest of the Arrowhead region has been economically stagnant for 25+ years.

A lot of what used to be a strong economic backbone in this state has been chipped away. The Iron Range used to have a strong enough economy that a high school graduate could get a manual labor job in the mines and make an honest middle class wage but those days are long gone.

Also you have to take into consideration the cost of living in the other states that you mentioned. What equates to $15 an hour may be equal to $12 an hour in say...Kansas City.

[What!]

Originally Posted by nick is rulz

the same applies for Minnesota. Beyond the metro area with the exception of maybe Rochester there is no economic growth taking place. Duluths job market is basically a joke and the rest of the Arrowhead region has been economically stagnant for 25+ years.

A lot of what used to be a strong economic backbone in this state has been chipped away. The Iron Range used to have a strong enough economy that a high school graduate could get a manual labor job in the mines and make an honest middle class wage but those days are long gone.

Also you have to take into consideration the cost of living in the other states that you mentioned. What equates to $15 an hour may be equal to $12 an hour in say...Kansas City.

True, the MN is not what it used to be, but in its weaker moments it is still better than those states I mentioned. I have been down to those states, I have recently talked to people here from those states, and their options are far lower. That's what I am talking about.

What's the problem, nick? Are you having trouble career-wise?

[nick is rulz]

Originally Posted by What!

What's the problem, nick? Are you having trouble career-wise?

No, not at all. Never have.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by nick is rulz

the same applies for Minnesota. Beyond the metro area with the exception of maybe Rochester there is no economic growth taking place. Duluths job market is basically a joke and the rest of the Arrowhead region has been economically stagnant for 25+ years.

A lot of what used to be a strong economic backbone in this state has been chipped away. The Iron Range used to have a strong enough economy that a high school graduate could get a manual labor job in the mines and make an honest middle class wage but those days are long gone.

Also you have to take into consideration the cost of living in the other states that you mentioned. What equates to $15 an hour may be equal to $12 an hour in say...Kansas City.

While there might not be a lot of growth in outstate MN there is a lot of stability and that is just as important. SW MN is a good example. There are several major employers that are in very good financial situations in SW MN, mainly Marshall and Willmar areas. These areas attract workers from all over the region. Unemployment rates are pretty much zero, very little turn-over, etc. You have several multi-billion dollar companies supporting the communities and that has a very positive economic impact on a region.

[nick is rulz]

I dont disagree with that. Overall yeah MN has a much better economy than most of the midwest but it too has its downfalls.

[Minnehahapolitan]

The thing with Minnesota is that the economy never really declines. It may grow, it may be stagnant. It just never declines. I think decades of economic stability is more important than a few boom years. Look at what that does to the coasts, their housing market can tank depending on the year.