Industry | CareerForce

About the Public Administration Industry

The Public Administration sector consists of establishments of federal, state, and local government agencies that administer, oversee, and manage public programs and have executive, legislative, or judicial authority over other institutions within a given area. These agencies also set policy, create laws, adjudicate civil and criminal legal cases, and provide for public safety and for national defense. In general, government establishments in the Public Administration sector oversee governmental programs and activities that are not performed by private establishments. Establishments in this sector typically are engaged in the organization and financing of the production of public goods and services, most of which are provided for free or at prices that are not economically significant.

Featured Careers in Public Administration

Office Clerks, General

Management Analysts

Correctional Officers and Jailers

In Demand Careers

In 2022, the following 10 occupations were in top demand in Minnesota. Select an occupation to learn more including watch a short video, get more information on wages, daily work activities, education requirements, find jobs, and more.

Public Administration Industry Trends

In 2022, there were about 3,400 establishments providing 132,900 jobs in the Public Administration industry, with a payroll of just over $9 billion dollars. That accounted for about 4.7% of total employment in the state, or 1 in every 21.5 jobs.
Average annual wages were just over $68,000 in 2022, which was about $25,000 below the average across all industries.
The largest subsector was Executive, Legislative & Other General Government Support, with 73,000 jobs; followed by Justice, Public Order & Safety Activities with 23,350 jobs and Administration of Human Resources Programs with 16,100 jobs.
The Public Administration industry has been adding jobs in Minnesota since 2012, adding just over 10,500 jobs over the past 10 years as Minnesota’s population and economy have continued to grow.
Public Administration firms reported just over 2,900 job vacancies in 2022, as employers struggled to find workers to fill open jobs.
According to DEED’s long-term projections, the Public Administration industry is expected to add about 4,000 jobs over the next decade, a 2.2% rate of growth. Several occupations in demand in Public Administration are expected to see growth in the future as well as demand from replacement openings as existing workers retire. Most jobs in Public Administration require postsecondary education, though some can be started with a High School Diploma and some level of on-the-job training.