AI Could Impact Minnesota’s Labor Force

(Adobe Stock via Minnesota News Connection)

(By Mike Moen. Minnesota News Connection) – New data show stagnant job growth in Minnesota. Even if numbers improve in the long run, labor researchers are painting a picture of which jobs will be most affected by artificial intelligence.

The latest unemployment report says the state’s jobless rate has inched up to 4.4%. It suggests federal actions, such as the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, are contributing factors. Others studying workforce trends say AI is a noteworthy threat.

Aaron Rosenthal, research director for the think tank North Star Policy Action, testified before the Legislature this spring, saying Minnesota’s abundance of professionals such as software developers makes the state vulnerable. He added that a lot of at-risk jobs tend to be non-union.

“What this suggests is this mismatch,” he said, “where the workers that are most impacted by AI are also the least likely to have a union that can help them in shaping the way that AI actually impacts their job.”