Ramsey County serves as a regional employment hub for residents, surrounding communities

As online education, technological innovation, and remote work reshape how we live and work, geography still plays a pivotal role in accessing career opportunities. Ramsey County Workforce Solutions continues to assess shifting demographics, migration, and commuting behaviors to personalize and strengthen workforce development strategies. In February, Workforce Solutions hosted a webinar exploring five top workforce trends in Ramsey County with Erin Olson, Senior Director of Strategic Research at RealTime Talent.

The in-depth report accompanying the webinar offers local employers, policymakers, and community leaders data-driven insights into the geography of remote work, automation in the workplace, the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation locally, and how these trends vary across Ramsey County. Throughout 2025, Workforce Solutions is highlighting different workplace trends and how communities and organizations across Ramsey County are changing and adapting.

Migration patterns in Ramsey County

Understanding who is moving in and out of Ramsey County - and why - can help local government, non-profit agencies and businesses better tap into and retain local talent. As of February 2025, Ramsey County is experiencing a net negative migration pattern, meaning more people – 6,421 more in a 5-year survey  – leave the county than relocate. Those leaving the county most frequently relocate to Washington and Anoka counties while those moving in from across the metro area journey from Hennepin, Washington, and Anoka counties. According to U.S. Census American Community Survey estimates from 2017-2021, Ramsey County had a net gain of 241 residents from Hennepin County, a 55 resident net gain from Blue Earth County, and a 40 resident net gain from DeKalb County, Georgia.

Commute patterns

For daily commutes, trends are changing and contradict the overall migration patterns. More people travel into Ramsey County for daily work than leave. A total of 48,000 inbound commuters work within the county borders, an increase of 1,500 commuters from 2024. When assessing the outbound commute patterns, Hennepin County is the primary destination, a contrast to the migration trend, and the only county with more outbound than inbound commuters.

Inbound commuters are employed across a wide range of industries. Health Science and Human Services lead the way with a combined total of 13,341 inbound workers – not net workers – followed by:

• Manufacturing: 2,504
• Education: 1,947
• Public Administration: 1,838
• Finance: 1,656
• Arts, Audio/Video Technology: 1,560

Assessing and applying trends 

For businesses and relevant agencies, reviewing migration and commute data can help understand workplace trends, identify potential talent gaps and address barriers to employment early. 

“As workplaces continue to adjust how work gets done and where, watching these commute patterns reflect the needs of employers and the preferences of talent is really critical,” Olson said. “Ultimately, shifts and where people choose to live and work may be reflective of a household’s needs, priorities, their access to transportation, their access to technology and the internet, and other community conditions. All of these pieces are interrelated.”

While employment trends across industries continue to bring new challenges and opportunities to Ramsey County, Workforce Solutions can offer assistance to employers and job seekers. Email us at employerservices@co.ramsey.mn.us today! Explore workforce demographics in Ramsey County here and sign up for the Workforce Innovation Board, Youth Works!, and Job Seeker newsletters to learn more about workforce shifts in Ramsey County.