Shakopee's Job Growth Highest Among Minnesota's Larger Cities

Shakopee experienced the highest job growth in quarters one and two of 2011 for cities with a population of 20,000 or more, according to a report put out Dec. 22 by Minnesota Compass Project.

Numbers collected by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) show that Shakopee saw 9.3 percent job growth, beating out number two-ranked Ramsey, by 2.7 percent.

The city’s Community Development Director Michael Leek said the growth can largely be attributed to two Shakopee businesses – Valleyfair and Canterbury Park.

“The majority of the growth was in the “leisure and hospitality” sector,” Leek said. “This would tend to make sense as Valleyfair and Canterbury Park’s live racing session are seasonal and my understanding is that hiring by them starts late in the first quarter of the year and into the second quarter.”

Shakopee Mayor John Schmitt commented Tuesday how great it has been for Shakopee to have Valleyfair, Canterbury Park and the Renaissance Festival move to the city and employ so many people, including Shakopee’s own youth and adults.