Labor Market Profile
Fargo Moorhead’s labor market epitomizes the Midwestern work ethic. Local employers enjoy a stable base of employees with high productivity, low turnover and low absenteeism.
- Total MSA population of approximately 210,000
- Total MSA workforce of approximately 120,000
- 95% of existing Fargo Moorhead employers rate their employees’ productivity as good or excellent
| Local, State, & National Labor Market |
Non-Farm Labor Force |
Employed Persons |
Unemployment Rate |
| Fargo Moorhead MSA |
118,780 |
114,431 |
3.7% |
| Minnesota |
2,950,118 |
2,781,634 |
5.7% |
| North Dakota |
374,161 |
362,005 |
3.2% |
| United States |
153,373,000 |
140,681,000 |
8.3% |
| Source: Job Service N.D., Minn. DEED - Dec. 2011 |
| Cass, Clay, & Surrounding Counties Labor Market |
Non-Farm Labor Force |
Employed Persons |
Unemployment Rat |
| Becker, Minn. |
18,007 |
16,848 |
6.4% |
| Clay, Minn. |
34,864 |
33,151 |
4.9% |
| Norman, Minn. |
3,856 |
3,629 |
5.9% |
| Wilkin, Minn. |
4,289 |
4,115 |
4.1% |
| Barnes, N.D. |
5,750 |
5,549 |
3.5% |
| Cass, N.D. |
83,916 |
81,280 |
3.1% |
| Griggs, N.D. |
1,192 |
1,156 |
3.0% |
| Ransom, N.D. |
2,739 |
2,642 |
3.5% |
| Richland, N.D. |
9,503 |
9,172 |
3.5% |
| Steele, N.D. |
1,049 |
1,025 |
2.3% |
| Traill, N.D. |
3,913 |
3,761 |
3.9% |
| Total |
169,078 |
162,328 |
4.0% |
| Source: Job Service N.D., Minn. DEED - Dec. 2011 |
| Education Attainment |
Percent of Population, Age 25+ |
| Less than High School |
4.8 |
| High School or Equivalent Only |
95.2 |
| Some College - more than 1 year, no degree |
20.5 |
| Associate Degree |
13.1 |
| Bachelor Degree |
36.9 |
| Graduate Degree |
9.5 |
| Source: Decision Data Resources, Fall 2010 Estimate |