The number of job vacancies in Minnesota climbed 16 percent at the end of 2017 and the portion that were part-time dipped slightly, two more signs of the state's extremely tight labor market.
In a state where about 3 million people are working, employers reported 114,000 job openings in the fourth-quarter survey by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). That's up from 97,400 vacancies a year earlier.
The agency does an in-depth report on job vacancies twice a year and released the latest data Thursday.
It showed that the number of openings fell from the 122,900 reported midway through 2017, a drop that was likely shaped by seasonal factors. The data also showed a fewer number of openings for temporary, or seasonal, work at the end of the year than in the middle.
"These figures indicate that both the economy and hiring demand are strong statewide," DEED Commissioner Shawntera Hardy said in a statement.
Median hourly pay was $14.34 an hour at the end of 2017, up from $13.97 an hour at the end of 2016 but down from $14.39 an hour at the midpoint of 2017.
The survey found that 41 percent of the open jobs at the end of 2017 were part-time work, defined as less than 35 hours a week. That's down from 43 percent a year ago and 44 percent midway through the year.
Over the past few years, the vacancy rate has risen most sharply in lower-paying jobs, a study by the Star Tribune showed earlier this year. That's partly due to demographics, as participation in the labor force shrinks with the retirement of baby boomers and the elevation of lower-paying workers into higher paying jobs.
