MnTech Reports on the State of Tech Talent in Minnesota
The Minnesota Technology Association is leading a collaborative effort to address workforce challenges facing technology-enabled businesses in Minnesota and helping to expand the pool of talent needed to fill the information technology jobs of the future. With financial support from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), MnTech retained the services of RealTime Talent to do an in-depth analysis of Minnesota’s tech talent supply and demand, offering a data-driven forecast that can help shape our state’s workforce strategies.
With technological advancement reshaping every sector of the economy, the demand for IT talent is set to evolve, with approximately 39,000 job openings expected to arise over the next five years. These openings reflect both modest growth in new tech roles and a significant need to backfill positions due to retirements, industry exits, and out-of-state migration. This labor market dynamic puts pressure on employers to not only attract new talent, but also retain the experienced professionals they currently have.
This report will examine the impact of these trends on 10 specific IT occupations, including a deeper dive into four of these: Software Developer, Computer User Support Specialist, Computer Systems Analyst, and Information Security Analyst. These are not only some of the most in-demand roles, but also ones that are most accessible for entry-level talent.
A key factor in the future of IT employment is the rapid evolution of generative AI technologies, such as GitHub CoPilot, which have already begun to transform the role of software developers. By enhancing productivity and automating routine coding tasks, these AI-driven tools are reshaping the skills required in the workforce. As businesses adopt these technologies, demand may shift towards higher-order technical and problem-solving abilities, even while the overall number of jobs in some areas might stabilize or decrease.
As Minnesota navigates this evolving landscape, the collaboration between the public and private sectors will be vital. Policymakers, educators, and businesses must work together to ensure that talent supply aligns with future demand. This report provides actionable insights to guide those efforts, emphasizing the importance of agility and foresight in workforce planning.
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