Unemployment rates have continued to fall across Minnesota. And Sherburne County is now at its lowest rate since 2001.

 

That was one statistic covered during a community partners meeting last week at Pebble Creek Golf Course by Luke Greiner, regional labor market analyst with the Dept. of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

 

The county’s unemployment rate fell from 4.4% in 2014 to 4.0% last year as the economy continued to recover from the recession that hit between 2007 and 2011.

 

The county’s unemployment rate peaked at 9.1% in 2009, the height of foreclosures and economic hardship across the U.S.

 

Greiner said the recession also slowed down growth in the county. Sherburne County was one of the fastest growing counties in the state from 2000 through 2010, adding  over 24,000 people during a construction boom. That growth slowed to just under 3,000 from 2010 through 2014.

 

He said Sherburne County still had a 40% population increase over the past 15 years, compared with 11% for the rest of the state.

 

“What comes with population growth is labor force growth. It’s a catalyst for jobs,” said Greiner.

 

“Whenever I work with site selectors or companies that are thinking about locating in Minnesota, labor force is the big issue - do you have it? and what kind of skills do they have.”

 

Greiner said the largest growth in Sherburne County  came in the 55-64 age category (120%) and 65-74 category (106%), which isn’t unusual, considering the number of baby boomers getting older.

 

But he said overall, Sherburne County is young.

 

“You have a lot of families that are moving here,” he said. “Only 10% of the population is receiving Social Security retirement benefits. That’s third lowest in the state.”

 

Although those older age groups will continue to grow, so will the younger, working age labor force.

 

By 2035, the county is projected to have 72,877 aged 15-64, which means a big labor market and lots of spending power.

 

Greiner said the county had a shrinking labor pool from 2008 through 2013, but it is expected to grow by nine% over the next decade. Unfortunately for employers, finding qualified workers is more difficult today than it was 10 years ago.

 

Just before the recession, Region 7W (Benton, Stearns, Sherburne and Wright Counties) had 7,930 unemployed people in 2006 and 4,251 job opening. That’s about 1.6 people for every job opening.

 

At the peak of the recession in 2009-10, there were 11.6 unemployed people for every job opening. In 2015, that number had shrunk to 1.1. So finding workers is difficult.

 

“There’s no line. There’s just one person,” said Greiner. “It’s a labor force issue.”

 

He said he’s spoken to employers who are struggling to find workers. Some say they’ve increased wages $3 - $4 per hour for starting positions. But it continues to be an issue because of the lack of skilled labor.

 

Greiner said when many companies advertise today for a position, they might get one unemployed person applying for the job. And that person might not be qualified. Everyone else who responds might already be employed.

 

“And they have to have a reason to leave. So you have to have a better job, a better location, better wages or better benefits,” he said. “And it’s got to be significantly better. They’re leaving a safe spot.  They know what they currently have. It’s scary to change jobs.”

 

Greiner said there are bright spots in job growth in the county. Employment statistics show in 2013-2014, the county added 236 jobs in healthcare and social assistance, 202 in manufacturing, 140 in construction and 105 in waste management and administrative support.