Scholarships available to Minnesotans pursuing high-demand occupations

As Minnesota prepares to absorb the economic consequences of a worker shortage expected to balloon over the next couple of years, the state is working to get ahead of the shortage by offering scholarships to high school students pursuing high-demand technical careers.

After legislation granting the scholarships passed in 2017, a “pilot program in 2018-2019 gave [nearly] 400 $2,500 scholarships to students studying advanced manufacturing, agriculture, health care services, information technology, early childhood education and transportation,” according to RFD TV. Additional funding was granted during the 2019 legislative session, expanding the number of available scholarships to an estimated 668 during the 2020 school year.

Eligible students include those pursuing an associate degree, diploma, or certificate at any of the 30 Minnesota State community and technical colleges. To learn more about Workforce Development Scholarships, visit here.

The Center’s “Great Jobs Without a Four-Year Degree” project has also been working to raise awareness of the well-paying and rewarding career opportunities technical industries offer. Our latest video series highlights the stories of Minnesotans who have found great joy and satisfaction working in agriculture, health care, information technology, and energy.

Listen to and share their stories below!

Agriculture

Health Care

Information Technology

Energy