While the many events of Manufacturing Month are winding down across Minnesota, CareerForce will continue to highlight the numerous career paths and employment opportunities in this critically important industry. Below, view photos from some of the many career exploration and other manufacturing focused events that took place during October 2025 across Minnesota.
There are always many opportunities to highlight in manufacturing. That’s because more than 8,500 manufacturing companies across Minnesota make a wide range of products to improve the lives of people around the world - from medical devices to food to recreational vehicles and everything in between.
And it’s easy to see why people are interested in working in manufacturing. In addition to the satisfaction that comes with making something that makes a difference, manufacturing work pays well. Manufacturing workers made an average annual wage of just under $83,280, which is $9,000 (12%) higher than the state’s overall average wage in 2024. And, many manufacturing jobs can be started with a high school diploma or GED and on-the-job training.
There is a big demand for people to work in manufacturing positions in Minnesota, now and into the future - making it a strong career path choice. In fact, Minnesota expects more than 93,000 job openings for manufacturing production positions from 2022 through 2032. Many of these jobs are in state-of-the-art facilities using cutting edge technology.
One of the ways Minnesota celebrates Manufacturing Month is through the Statewide Tour of Manufacturing, during which manufacturers across the state open their doors to students, parents, educators and others. The goal: to help raise awareness about manufacturing careers and inspire more Minnesotans to follow this rewarding career path. This year, there were more than 300 events included in the statewide tour.
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development marks Manufacturing Month in a variety of ways, from hosting hiring events at CareerForce locations, to the regional labor market analysts sharing information about manufacturing employment trends in various parts of Minnesota to the regional Workforce Strategy Consultant team coordinating events in their parts of the state to showcase the industry.
While Manufacturing Month 2025 is wrapping up; resources for exploring careers and finding employment in this dynamic industry live on. Check out the links below.
