BEMIDJI, Minn. — Nate Dorr will outline the job market in the northwest portion of Minnesota and look at some potentially hot careers during a noon Wednesday, March 11 Brown Bag Lunch training session at the Bemidji State University Center for Research and Innovation.

Attendees are encouraged to bring a bag lunch for the one-hour session, which is open free to the public at the center’s off-campus facility at 3801 Bemidji Ave. N.

A regional analyst with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, Dorr will refer to data on employment trends, current economic problems, population characteristics and the possible impact of the stimulus package as the backdrop for the presentation. He feels that looking at quarter-to-quarter changes and comparing similar quarters over a five-year period can help determine which industries might survive the global crisis.

“I will talk about the jobs that have survived the recession, how we are affected by the recession and what jobs or industries have been hit the hardest,” said Dorr. “Depending on how the federal stimulus package shakes out, our region might be well positioned to implement infrastructure and construction projects. And with the growing interaction between local colleges, economic developers, private businesses and government around green industry jobs, the northwest region has the potential to emerge as a leader in the renewable energy market.”

He will also discuss the different generations comprising the current workforce and challenge or affirm the myths surrounding each group, which generally are cataloged by years of birth or titles like “Generation X.” Dorr will also provide information on resources for finding high-demand occupations, employment projections and regional career Web sites.

In his current position, Dorr analyzes trends in employment, wages, industry sectors, demographics and other factors of the northwest Minnesota economy. He has used his background in youth programs, low-income organizations, the economic sector, and workforce development for writing grants over the past six years.

Dorr, who earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Minnesota, previously held positions with the Minnesota Community Action Association, the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, the Minnesota Legislature and the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs in Minneapolis.

The Brown Bag program is part of free training and informational presentations offered by the CRI each month. A full schedule can be found at http://www.cri-bsu.org/BrownbagSeries.html.

For more information, contact the Bemidji State University Center for Research and Innovation at (218) 755-4900; toll free, (888) 738-3224; email, cri@bemidjistate.edu; or at http://www.cri-bsu.org.

FOR YOUR CALENDAR
March 11 – noon – Bemidji State University Center for Research and Innovation hosts Brown Bag Luncheon training sesson on the job market in northwest Minnesota. Presenter: Nate Dorr, regional analyst, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. Location: CRI; 3801 Bemidji Ave. N.; Bemidji, Minn. Cost: free; participants encouraged to bring lunch. For information: (218) 755-4900; (888) 738-3224; http://www.cri-bsu.org.