(Fargo, ND) -- It's no secret, jobs are open across the country, and North Dakota is on that list.
Fargo Workforce Center Manager Carey Fry appeared on WDAY Radio's Bonnie and Friends Monday to talk about where the biggest needs are, and how businesses both large and small are handling open positions.
"The number one business hiring right now is, of course, healthcare," said Fry. "If you are looking for entry level work in retail and food service, those signs are everywhere too."
Fry says the most recent jobs numbers show that North Dakota as a whole has nearly 17,000 job openings, while Fargo-Moorhead has around 6,500. You may think unemployment is playing a factor in the open jobs, but Fry says it has not been a factor.
"As of August, unemployment is at 3.2% for the state and just 2.5% for Fargo." Fry adds that things like baby-boomers retiring, along with less teens working during their high school years has led to more openings in the job market. COVID-19 concerns may also play a factor in some people's decision to work in places like the healthcare industry.
But how are the bigger, national chains able to keep their workforce numbers more steady? "They raise wages, being more flexibility with schedules, being more creative in advertising, bonuses and other things like that are helping big businesses find those workers and keep businesses open," said Fry, who adds that struggles have been more prevalent in smaller businesses who just don't have the resources of larger companies.