The March 2026 U.S. jobs report delivered a stronger-than-expected rebound after a weak February, while Minnesota’s latest unemployment data shows a rare uptick in joblessness. But for Minnesota employers, the real story isn’t in the headlines. It’s in the context.
The loss of 92,000 jobs nationwide is significant. But it increases the chance of further rate cuts.
The February 2026 jobs report delivered a surprise, with the U.S. economy losing roughly 92,000 jobs, a sharp reversal from January’s modest gains (Washington Post, 2026).
In recent years, the job market has witnessed a clear shift: many employers are placing less weight on formal degrees and more on what a candidate can do. Skills-based hiring, prioritizing competencies, experience, and demonstrated ability over educational credentials, is becoming a leading trend in recruitment. According to NACE’s Job Outlook 2025 Spring Update, almost two-thirds of employers surveyed reported using skills-based hiring to help identify candidates with potential. Below, we explore why this is happening, what the data shows, and what organizations and job seekers should be thinking about as the change accelerates.
Insights from SkyWater on job growth, economic uncertainty, and hiring trends in the Upper Midwest.
I attended an event at the Economic Club of Minnesota, where both Neel Kashkari (head of the Minneapolis Fed Reserve) and Jim Bullard (head of the St. Louis Fed Reserve) had a really interesting discussion about the Minnesota economy and labor market.
You can see an
article on the event here, as well as a
recap from the Star Tribune.
What every CPA needs to know about today’s competitive market
“If you’re not happy where you are, start looking...” Right?
That’s the old rule. But what if you still like your job? Let's imagine that the pay is fine, the benefits are good, the career path promising. If you’re in public accounting or a CPA with a public accounting background, there’s a new rule to consider following: “No matter how happy you are in your current role, now is the best time to be looking at what’s out there.” Here's why:
Regional Executive Search Firms Have an Undeniable Edge in Executive Recruiting
Finding the right person for any executive role is a recruiting challenge every organization eventually needs to take. Historically, Fortune 500 companies have hired multi-national search firms to fill executive roles. The logic behind this seems to make sense: large positions can only be filled by large firms right? Think again. In the last few years, we have seen a trend emerge where companies are interested in a more intimate and focused search approach than what a large national recruiting firm can offer.
As we start 2022, there are a lot of dynamics in the market.
As leaders throughout the Twin Cities investment community are well aware, the competition for investment management and executive talent has grown increasingly fierce over the past two years. In response to the growing demand for executive recruiting expertise in this area, SkyWaterSearch Partners is pleased to announce the launch of our new Financial Services Practice area, to be led by Julie Amende.
This time last year, millions of Americans had lost their jobs. Millions more remained employed but fearful of what the future might hold. For employers, it was an equally strange and unpredictable time. Hiring managers routinely saw competitive offers rebuffed by candidates who might have been tempted but were ultimately unwilling to risk leaving the relative stability of their current positions.
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