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We complain about them. We dream of the day we no longer need them. And on Monday morning, we cover our heads to avoid them. But during times like this, it sure is nice to have a good job.

Having a good job is about so many things. Of course, good jobs provide us with money to live - to buy a home, put food on the table, take a family vacation. A good job also becomes a part of our identity - something we’re good at or known for, a point of pride. But maybe most importantly, good jobs are about security - knowing that we’ll be able to make ends meet, being able to save for our kids’ college funds, preparing for our golden years.

Most people agree that economic security is one of the things we worry about most today. We want to know that our families are secure. We need to know that our state and our businesses are on the right track. But at some point this year, we all have felt a little insecure about the way things are going.

The current recession has been rough on everyone. Unemployment rates are up, profits are down, and it’s a lot harder to make ends meet. Businesses are struggling, which means workers are struggling.

But Minnesotans still see our state as a special place to work, live and raise a family. Why is that, and how do we keep it that way, or (dare we say) make it even better? In a nutshell: it’s about our quality of life. And good jobs are one of the cornerstones of Minnesota’s quality of life.

The equation is pretty simple: Jobs + Creative business leaders + Well-trained workers = Stronger economy = Stronger Minnesota

Even in tough times, we have a lot going for us here. We have tremendous resources in our state. We like work (really, we do). We’re good at rolling up our sleeves, working hard and thinking outside of the box. We are protective of our quality of life here. We’ll pay our taxes so our kids are educated, our seniors are cared for, and our streets are safe. And we will give a little more to get even better results.

This recession is going to end. And when it does, the best way for Minnesota to bounce back is pretty simple: create jobs. We need good jobs to put Minnesotans back to work, and keep our kids here when they finish school.

Okay, so here’s our ace in the hole: we’re common sense people. We know that if we’re going to jump-start Minnesota’s economy again and achieve economic security, we need to go back to the basics. We want good jobs, healthy businesses and well-educated kids.

• Minnesota is home to nearly half a million small businesses. Our state also boasts 19 Fortune 500 companies.
• Minnesota is known for its high productivity, motivated workforce and low absenteeism.  Our hard-working culture is reflected in the third highest labor force participation rate in the nation at 72.9 percent.  The national average is 66 percent.
• Between 2010 and 2020 Minnesota’s labor force is expected increase six percent to 3,278,320 people.  In that same time period, our state’s population is expected to increase more than nine percent to 5,943,230 people.