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Brent Olson, a Big Stone County commissioner, told us a story back in April of the 

Based on the county jobless rate, Olson figured "nearly thirty percent of the people looking for a job applied for ONE job."

It was a mind-blowing observation. But Olson's one of MinnEcon's 

 and his insights into the western Minnesota economy have been spot-on.

We recalled his words this morning as we read through 

 by the state Department of Employment and Economic Development that shows the Great Recession has carved tornado-like paths of job losses and shrinking job opportunities across Minnesota.

Some of the worst hit counties sit next to the counties showing job growth. Here's a map produced by 

Big Stone County was one of those nine that saw job gains. But it's a grimmer picture in the counties around it.

And you can see Olson's April observations come to light in DEED's data on shrinking job opportunities.

The Upper Minnesota Valley counties include Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Swift and Yellow Medicine. At the end of last year, that region had nearly 40 unemployed Minnesotans for every job vacancy.

As Minnesota gropes its way out of recession, that job opportunity gap might end up more worrisome than the unemployment rate.

It's worth repeating that in some parts of Minnesota there were five unemployed people per job opening at the end of 2009 while in other parts there were 

Since then,  the overall statewide unemployment picture 

. But it's increasingly clear that it'll take some parts of Minnesota a lot long longer than others to recover from the recession's damage.

What's the job picture look like in your part of Minnesota? 

. Help make us all smarter about what's happening across our state.

 Online help wanted ads in Minnesota dropped in June, 

Business and Economic News

MinnEcon Blog

Paul Tosto

Author

In some parts of Minnesota, 40 unemployed people per job opening.

Job loss, opportunity twister cuts across Minnesota

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