Ramsey County services are not impacted by the Federal shutdown at this time.
October 2025 is Manufacturing Month
October is Manufacturing Month in Ramsey County and across the state. The manufacturing industry plays an important role in our local economy and is critical to the economic strength and vitality of our state.
Check out the resources, events and industry information below to learn more about the wide array of career opportunities in manufacturing.
Job seeker resources:
- Manufacturing jobs on Job Connect.
- Manufacturing trainings on the Ramsey County training dashboard.
- CareerForce Manufacturing Month resources.
- Career coach tips.
- Minnesota State Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence Career Tool.
- Student flyer: 5 Great Reasons to Pick a Career in Manufacturing.
- Adult flyer: 5 Great Reasons to Consider Manufacturing.
Events and workshops:
Tours of International Paper - Oct 23, 1 or 3 p.m. - 1300 Red Fox Rd, Arden Hills.
The general public, job seekers, workforce professionals and students (16+) are welcome to come learn about International Paper and the career paths that exist for new and experienced workers. See the operation in action by taking the tour. Free registration required.
Attire specifications required for tour: Shoes must be low heel and close toed, no loose or flowing clothing (ties, scarves, etc.), no jewelry, hair longer than shoulder length must be tied back. Limited parking available in the lot, parking also available on Red Fox Rd.
Crosby Lake Industry Tours - Oct. 30, 2-5 p.m.
Join us for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at three leading manufacturers in Saint Paul: Summit Brewing, Harris Companies, and National Checking Company. The event will include:
- Guided facility tours (2-4 p.m.) with pre-registration.
- Networking with refreshments (4–4:15 p.m.).
- A panel conversation on industry trends and workforce pathways (4:15–5 p.m.).
Space is limited so reserve your spot via Eventbrite. This event is sponsored by the Saint Paul Port Authority and Ramsey County Workforce Solutions.
View manufacturing tours across the state.
Industry reports and articles:
- Manufacturing Demand in the Twin Cities Metro.
- Federal Reserve’s manufacturing articles.
- Minnesota State: Your Future in Manufacturing.
- Manufacturing Industry Overview: Metro Area.
Did you know?
- Manufacturing contributed $57.2 billion to Minnesota’s economy in 2023, representing 12% of the state’s gross domestic product and $5.5 billion in Ramsey County.
- Manufacturing jobs in Minnesota pay an average annual wage of $79,000 and $95,315 in Ramsey County? That’s 10% higher than the state’s overall average private sector wage.
- There are roughly 8,625 manufacturing companies in Minnesota and 650 of them are in Ramsey County.
- More than 29,000 people in Ramsey County and 320,000 people in Minnesota work in manufacturing jobs, making it the fourth largest local industry sector locally and the second largest employing industry in the state.
- Minnesota is projected to have over 93,000 job openings for manufacturing production positions by 2032, with nearly 24,000 new workers needed in Ramsey County alone to meet local demand.
Posted on Friday, September 26, 2025 - 6:14 p.m.