The 2024 Southwest Minnesota Career Expo took place on September 24th and 25th at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall and Minnesota West-Worthington. This year’s event welcomed 124 employers and educational programs, giving high school students valuable insights into career paths and educational opportunities while showcasing the types of jobs offered by local businesses.

• Minnesota West Carl Perkins Consortium
• Southwest Initiative Foundation
• Southwest Minnesota Workforce Development Board
• Minnesota West Community and Technical College
• Southwest Minnesota State University
• Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council
• Southwest Regional Development Commission
• SWWC Service Cooperative
• Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce
• Department of Employment and Economic Development
• Numerous regional businesses and service agencies

Teachers, students, and exhibitors alike shared positive feedback on the expo’s value in introducing students to the opportunities within Southwest Minnesota and in helping them identify potential career paths.

The Career Expo Game Show: A Fun Learning Experience

One of the expo’s highlights was the Career Expo Game Show, which offers students a fun way to learn about the local labor market in southwest and west-central Minnesota. Before the game show, students answered questions on topics related to their career interests and post-high school plans. This year we received the highest participation to date!

When asked, “What type of job are you MOST interested in?” the majority (27%) showed a strong preference for careers in Health Science & Human Services, with Entrepreneurship or not sure (17%) and Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources (11%) following closely.

Another question asked students, “What do you plan to do after high school?” Nearly half (49%) plan to pursue a bachelor’s degree, with 14% considering an associate’s degree and 13% planning to enter the workforce directly.

For the question, "Where do you want to live?" students’ responses were relatively balanced across options. Many expressed a desire to stay close to home: 24% hoped to live near their current hometown, and 16% preferred staying in the same region but moving to a different town. Notably, 29% were interested in living in a rural area elsewhere, while an impressive 26%—a significant increase from last year—wanted to live in a large city outside the region.

The final questions encouraged students to reflect more deeply on their career planning needs. Nearly half shared that their approach is to explore only careers they’re already interested in, while 30% expressed interest in career exploration but hadn’t yet taken any steps. Students also highlighted a preference for diverse work environments, with 29% favoring a hybrid mix of office and remote work, 30% interested in outdoor or field work, and 15% preferring a traditional office setting.

The 2024 Southwest Minnesota Career Expo was a success, with engaging events and valuable insights that helped students explore future career paths. We’re already looking forward to another fantastic year in 2025!