MINNEAPOLIMEDIA EDITORIAL: The Hardest Working Man in Minnesota? Inside Matt Varilek’s Relentless Push to Grow Jobs and Exports

A Weighty Responsibility

When Matt Varilek took the helm of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) in 2023, he inherited more than a state agency. He inherited the weight of Minnesota’s workforce, the ambitions of its small businesses, and the promise of industries seeking to expand beyond state borders. His arrival marked a moment when strategy, energy, and patience to cultivate both domestic and international opportunity would define the fortunes of thousands of Minnesotans.

Resilient Job Growth

In the years since, Minnesota’s labor market has remained notably resilient. Jobs have returned and grown, labor-force participation has stayed robust, and employers report steady hiring across a spectrum of sectors. These figures represent families keeping roofs over their heads, entrepreneurs expanding businesses, and communities sustaining schools, roads, and essential services. While no single commissioner can claim sole credit for statewide economic trends, DEED’s ability to align programs with measurable outcomes has played a vital role in these gains.

In January 2025, Minnesota employers added 9,600 jobs, the largest single-month gain since March 2024. The labor force grew by 4,800 people, and the unemployment rate held at 3.0 percent, well below the national average. Labor-force participation reached 68.1 percent, compared with 62.2 percent nationally. In August 2024, employers added 14,400 jobs, the strongest monthly gain in nearly two years. Education and Health Services, Professional and Business Services, and Leisure and Hospitality led the growth. Manufacturing, construction, and financial activities also showed gains, with hourly earnings rising 3.5 percent over the year.

Expanding Minnesota Globally

Varilek’s efforts are not confined to Minnesota alone. The Minnesota Trade Office, under his guidance, has pursued global opportunities with methodical intensity. Trade missions to Ireland and the Netherlands emphasized relationship-building rather than immediate transactions, connecting Minnesota companies to partners, distributors, and buyers across continents. Export assistance, training programs, and international industry matchmaking have yielded growth in sectors ranging from medical devices to precision machinery, signaling a strategic push to diversify the state’s economy.

In 2024, Minnesota exported more than $26.6 billion in goods. Manufactured products accounted for $24.6 billion, supporting an estimated 83,000 manufacturing jobs statewide. These exports sustain livelihoods across manufacturing plants, logistics operations, and the supply chain. Minnesota’s approach reflects a vision of building a resilient, diversified export base rather than relying on a commodity-heavy profile.

Navigating Market Volatility

The story of exports is rarely linear. Global commodity fluctuations have created volatility in Minnesota’s trade figures, particularly in mineral fuels and other resource-dependent sectors. In the second quarter of 2025, Minnesota exports fell by $1.3 billion compared with the same period in 2024, a 19 percent decline. Mineral fuel and oil exports to Canada dropped 96 percent, accounting for more than half of the overall decrease. Some sectors, including pharmaceuticals, aerospace components, and electrical equipment, remained resilient, highlighting the benefits of diversification.

These fluctuations illustrate the delicate balance between local policy and international market forces. Leadership can open doors, provide guidance, and facilitate access, but it cannot dictate the global economy.

Investing in Workforce and Communities

Beyond trade, DEED has invested in Minnesota’s economic foundation. In October 2024, the agency awarded $4.6 million in land redevelopment grants, redeveloping 22 acres, creating or retaining 278 jobs, and leveraging $174.7 million in private investment. Business-expansion funding through the Job Creation Fund and Minnesota Investment Fund supported nine projects, creating or retaining 225 jobs and attracting over $56 million in private investment.

In 2025, DEED awarded $4.2 million to three expansion projects, expected to retain or create 587 jobs and leverage $270 million in private capital. Youth workforce development also received attention: $4.8 million in grants supported 39 organizations helping more than 4,000 young Minnesotans, including youth of color and youth with disabilities, access high-growth industry jobs.

Oversight and Accountability

Equally important is oversight. The 2025 audit by the Office of the Legislative Auditor highlighted areas where DEED’s grant administration could be strengthened. Monitoring inconsistencies and incomplete documentation underscore the complexity of administering hundreds of millions in public funds. They remind us that ambition and execution must move hand in hand if public trust is to be maintained.

The MinnesotaWorks data breach of 2023 reinforced the importance of secure, reliable systems. Quick remediation limited immediate harm, but the episode emphasized that modern economic development requires a foundation of cybersecurity and operational precision.

A Relentless Commitment

Despite these challenges, one truth remains clear. Matt Varilek approaches his role with extraordinary intensity. He travels, convenes, allocates resources, and navigates complex policy terrain with a rare combination of diligence and vision. He is not merely present; he actively shapes the opportunities and prospects of Minnesota’s workforce and industries. Under his guidance, DEED has shown that public service can be both proactive and aspirational.

Governor Tim Walz’s leadership complements this energy. Together, they have fostered an environment where Minnesota businesses can compete abroad, workers can access opportunity, and public resources are deployed with thought and intent. Their approach combines ambition with accountability, vision with tangible outcomes, and strategy with relentless follow-through.

Leadership Measured in Impact

If the question in the headline lingers in the reader’s mind, it is purposeful. Leadership is measured not in hours logged, but in the impact achieved. In that measure, Varilek’s tenure reflects both tireless effort and discernible results. He exemplifies the diligence, creativity, and resilience required to guide a state in a complex and interconnected economy. With a partner in Governor Walz who shares the commitment to growth, inclusivity, and competitiveness, Minnesota benefits from leadership that anticipates, innovates, and acts with clarity of purpose.

History will judge the outcomes in numbers, in jobs, in exports, and in opportunities realized. Yet even now, it is evident that under Varilek’s stewardship and Walz’s administration, Minnesota has witnessed remarkable energy, disciplined action, and unwavering dedication to building a state where both people and industries can thrive. The work is exacting, the ambitions high, and the results — measured in lives improved, jobs created, and communities strengthened — are a testament to what focused, committed leadership can achieve.

MinneapoliMedia