News

A round-up of the last week’s economic news stories in Minnesota.

Like most manufacturers, the Uponor company in Apple Valley is confronting a skilled labor shortage. In October, the company—which is engaged in plastic pipe manufacturing—tackled this challenge in an exciting…

It turns out that labor demand curves do slope downwards after all.

Today sees a public hearing on a proposed $15 minimum wage in Saint Paul. Reports suggest that the Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association (MLBA) has enough votes on the City Council to exempt…

The Minneapolis Fed’s most recent Beige Book report on current business conditions shows that Minnesota's labor market - like that nationwide - is a seller's market right now. That's a good thing…

Rising interest in skilled technical positions shows efforts to counter the image of manufacturing, construction and similar fields as dirty and dangerous work environments are succeeding. But it is important…

Last week's blockbuster jobs report showed that sound economic policy can enable strong growth and reveal the bankruptcy of notions of stagnation.

MPR recently ran a piece describing the issue of mining may have on the upcoming elections. The story cites our research, and then goes on to describe the positions politicians…

Steve Kalina, a veteran of more than two decades in manufacturing, is the still-new executive director of the Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association, having started in August.  He’s also (I’m guessing…

Giovanetti recognizes that saving for retirement is very hard for most people and addresses the problem of social security being a terrible deal for most Americans---the negative return for many…

A round-up of the last week’s economic news stories in Minnesota.

Center of the American Experiment congratulates PolyMet Mining Corp. on receiving a Permit to Mine for its NorthMet copper-nickel project from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The proposed PolyMet mine is the most…

Large businesses in Saint Paul are already paying their workers at least $15ph and raising the city's minimum wage has always been about raising costs for the city's small businesses.…

This morning, I appeared on Kerri Miller's show on MPR and was asked how long businesses could get away with citing uncertainty as a reason for their lack of investment.…

If we can keep a growing economy with rising demand for labor and increased wages, the 'labor shortage' might be a nice problem to have.

John Lundy of the Duluth News Tribune wrote a misleading article about American Experiment’s mining rally in Duluth on Monday, October 22nd at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. In the…

A round-up of the last week’s economic news stories in Minnesota.

I can't say that a place with multicolored cleaning goo is more colorful than one where Richard Pryor hung out with George Carlin and The Pointer Sisters, but in an…

The Polymet mining project took one more step toward a final decision on whether the company will be able to begin developing some of Minnesota’s massive copper, nickel, platinum, and…

Shannon Full, president/CEO at the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce, address the skills gap.

One way to evaluate the effects of Minnesota’s economic policies is to compare border counties.

Federal tax cuts are already benefiting Minnesota’s economy.

The Rochester Post Bulletin argues that high taxes are what makes Minnesota great. It makes this argument in contradiction of the facts and, even, to the studies it cites in…

Thanks to Construction Career Pathways (CCP) and its partnering programs, Minnesota’s youth can begin exploring successful career opportunities in construction as early as middle school, develop skills through a registered…