Health Care & Social Assistance is a key employment sector in Northeast Minnesota, accounting for about 24.1% of all jobs in the region.
The region has one of the highest job vacancy rates in MN. In 2024, Northeast MN had a job vacancy rate of 6.2%, the highest among the state’s six planning regions. Health Care & Social Assistance is among the industries with the highest vacancy rates (≈ 8.2%)
Workforce shortages are acute, especially in rural/small-town settings: many health-care providers report intentions to leave within 5 years, especially physicians in rural areas.
