UMD Healthcare Program Labor Market and Skills Analysis

Abstract

Northeastern Minnesota is facing demographic shifts, including an aging population, declining college enrollments, and increased diversity among younger generations. These trends present challenges, especially in healthcare, where over a quarter of the region’s workforce is employed.

As the region’s largest public university, the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) is well-positioned to help address these challenges. However, despite graduating more than 500 students annually from healthcare-related programs, the university is not widely seen as a healthcare educational institution. It lacks undergraduate programs in nursing and other traditional healthcare fields, and its medical and pharmacy programs are managed by the University of Minnesota (U of M) Twin Cities campus.

The U of M’s recent proposal for an integrated partnership with Essentia Health, a health system serving Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin, presents an excellent opportunity for UMD to play a larger role in regional healthcare development. Several UMD faculty and staff have already begun collaborating with local healthcare representatives to better support students and ensure their success in the healthcare sector. The Bureau of Business and Economic Research conducted this labor market and skills analysis to assist these efforts.

This analysis assessed how well UMD’s academic programs align with regional healthcare needs. The research team reviewed UMD’s healthcare-related programs, identified key occupations, and offered recommendations for enhancing the university’s role in healthcare workforce development.