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On this Labor Day, we as Minnesotans, and as Americans, have a decision to make. 

 
We can either put America to work building the industries of the future -- the industries that will drive the 21st century economy. Or we can continue on our current path -- a path that has left roughly14 million Americans unemployed and a growing gap between the super rich and everyone else, a path that has left America unprepared to compete for the jobs and industries that will drive the economy of the future.

 
We're feeling that slide in Minnesota too. Our state now ranks 39th in employment growth, while personal income continues to drop.

 
Our choice is simple. Minnesota and America must lead in the job-creating industries of tomorrow while securing the jobs we have today. And we need a national strategy to create real, American jobs building a 21st century economy.

 
By choosing to invest in industries like renewable energy, energy efficiency, manufacturing, transportation, broadband, a smart electrical grid, recycling and green chemistry, we will drive our future domestic economy to new, great heights.

 
Diversifying our energy supply with cleaner, renewable and homegrown sources of power will create jobs installing, operating and producing parts for wind turbines, solar panels and other growing technologies. Expanding transit and repairing our roads and bridges will create construction and transit operation jobs. Retrofitting America's homes and buildings will create construction jobs and manufacturing employment, while saving energy and money for consumers. Expanding broadband and recycling, and building a smart electrical grid, will create good jobs while helping our entire economy run more efficiently.

 
But while St. Paul and Washington make meager, short-term investments in these industries, the rest of the world is gearing up to claim the jobs these industries have the potential to create. If we don't implement a 21st century jobs plan soon, we run the risk of losing out.

 
One way we can jump-start job creation right now is by implementing a comprehensive plan to invest in America's rail, transit and transportation infrastructure. That alone would create 7.7 million jobs. In addition, by giving industries the help they need, including establishing consistent support and extending tax credits -- which could create more than 100,000 jobs in wind, solar and geothermal -- we can help make them competitive in the global economy.

 
We can and must be more efficient to be viable. Enacting an energy efficiency resource standard could create more than 220,000 jobs over 10 years, and propelling industrial energy efficiency could create 1 million jobs by 2030.

 
We lost 2 million manufacturing jobs during the Great Recession. Green manufacturing loan programs could create 680,000 manufacturing jobs and nearly 2 million jobs over five years as a result of spending in local economies. Minnesota has a rich history of manufacturing and is poised to capitalize on future opportunities.

 
It's clear we need a national job creation strategy, but we are still hearing the same, tired policies that got us into this mess in the first place: tax cuts for the very rich and for corporations, deregulation that makes it harder for regular Americans to get a fair deal and to protect our families, our communities and our environment, and cuts to important programs that emerging industries rely on to compete in the global economy. 

 
On Labor Day, we should remember that it's up to all of us to get America working again. We need a nationwide hiring plan that will move America forward, ensure our competitiveness in the global economy, and bring jobs and prosperity back to the American people.


Shar Knutson is president of the  Minnesota AFL-CIO. Margaret Levin is state director of the Sierra Club North Star Chapter.

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