A Strong Work Ethic

One of the Brainerd Lakes Area’s greatest resources is its people. The available pool of employees is diverse in their education, training, and experience. Workers remain committed to their employers and will commute great distances for their jobs. Many are skilled at higher levels than their current jobs demand, creating a ready pool of potential employees for new and expanding companies. Wages and salaries are highly competitive, with labor costs averaging less than those in the Twin Cities and the state as a whole.

The closing of the Brainerd Potlatch Paper Mill in May of 2002 resulted in an influx of available workers into the area’s labor market. With support from the Brainerd Workforce Center and the Rural Minnesota CEP program, a significant number of these displaced workers have received additional training, and many have gone on to two and four-year college programs. A grant from the USEDA has helped spearhead local economic development planning and programs designed to inform potential new businesses about the availability of this pool of trained and educated people.

Download a copy of the Potlatch Displaced Workers Survey Results
Download the 2003 Brainerd-Baxter Salary Survey and Code for Salary Survey
Download the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development’s Brainerd/Baxter Labor Market Profile.