ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA — Today, North Star Policy Action released a new report, “Constructing Success: Minnesota’s Divergent Path in the Upper Midwest.” The report looks at the political experiment in the Upper Midwest since 2010. While Minnesota has mostly been led by Democratic Party leaders, its neighboring states have mostly been led by Republicans. The report examines how those divergent political realities have impacted the construction industry and construction workers in those states.
The report finds:
- Construction worker wages and compensation in Minnesota are higher than in neighboring states.
- Health and retirement benefits for construction workers are superior in the North Star State.
- Minnesota is a safer state for construction work.
The construction industry in Minnesota is more productive.
- The recovery of the construction industry from the Great Recession has been better in Minnesota.
- Sitting underneath Minnesota’s stronger position is the resilience of organized labor within the state’s construction industry.
- Partisan differences likely play a role in Minnesota’s superior outcomes.
“The data in this report highlight how Minnesota’s construction workers are earning higher wages, receiving better benefits, and working in safer environments compared to their peers in Republican-led neighboring states,” said Aaron Rosenthal, Research Director at North Star Policy Action. “These findings illustrate that when workers are treated well, the entire industry benefits, with Minnesota showing greater productivity and job growth, driven in part by the resilience of organized labor in the North Star State.”
In explaining the superior position of Minnesota’s construction workers and industry, the report highlights important infrastructure investments made by Governor Dayton to help pull the state out of the Great Recession, such as the $30 million allocated to build the Duluth Transportation Center.
More recently, the Walz-Flanagan administration and the DFL-led legislature have continued to boost the industry through historic funding for infrastructure and jobs, with $13.5 million provided for the repair of the aging seawall in Duluth’s waterfront. Governor Walz has also worked to secure federal funding matches from the Biden-Harris administration, landing $1 billion for 157 infrastructure projects in the Arrowhead region. This state-federal match includes the receipt of $530 million in federal funds and $400 million in state funding to replace the Blatnik Bridge, a project that is estimated to support 10,000 jobs in the region.
“DFL leaders in Minnesota have invested in the prosperity of working people, and those investments are paying off,” said Jake Schwitzer, North Star Policy Action Executive Director. “To keep building on this momentum, policy makers should continue to prioritize worker protections and infrastructure investments that improve communities and create family-sustaining jobs.”
“Workers know best what they need to be successful and safe,” said Senate Labor Committee Chair Jen McEwen (DFL-Duluth). “When we follow workers’ lead on legislation, we see more construction workers with health insurance and retirement benefits, higher compensation, and fewer on-the-job injuries. I am proud of the progress this report shows. I look forward to continuing this work to advance policies and investments that put Minnesotan workers first.”
“Workers give a lot, not just to their jobs, but to their neighbors, to our communities, and to building our state. Yet, too often, their contributions have been undervalued and safety on the job is at risk every day. Thanks to DFL led legislation passed last session, we enacted the most pro-worker policy agendas Minnesotans have seen in more than a generation, yet we know the work is not finished,” said Rep. Liish Kozlowski (DFL-Duluth). “We ensured hardworking Minnesotans will have the economic security to care for themselves and their loved ones, safer workplaces, prevailing wage and stronger wage protections, and greater freedom to organize unions in the workplace. Together, we cracked down on worker misclassification that steals wages and dignity from workers, ensured public dollars are not being used to exploit workers, created thousands of new construction jobs with historic infrastructure investments, and much more. Here in Minnesota, we remain committed to a future where every worker, regardless of their industry, is treated fairly and with respect.”
For more information and to access the full report, visit: northstarpolicy.org/constructing-success
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