Are You One Of The 13% Of Minnesotans Who’ve Worked Here?

Chances are, you or someone you know has worked for this iconic company at some point. In fact, more than 13 percent of Minnesotans now say they’ve punched the clock for this famous business, which can be found all over the state.

Minnesotans are no strangers to hard work, and when it comes to places we work, over 13 percent of Minnesota residents say they once worked for this employer.

Despite what you might have heard, business is booming here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes these days. According to CareerForce, Minnesota is home to almost 200,000 business establishments, which provided nearly 2.9 million jobs in 2022.

More Minnesotans Have Worked Here Than Anywhere Else

The largest employing industries here in the North Star State are health care (493,750 jobs), manufacturing (323,365 jobs), retail trade (281,785 jobs), accommodation and food services (216,600), and educational services (225,200), CareerForce noted.

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Minnesota Compass reported that there are a lot of us here in Minnesota who are currently employed, as well. They noted that the labor force from 2018 to 2022 here in the Bold North totaled 3,423,400 employees between the ages of 18 and 64. Which is a lot, considering Minnesota's total population is just shy of 6 million people.

The Employer That’s Hired 1 in 8 Minnesotans Revealed

So just which employer can lay claim to giving a job to over 13 percent of Minnesota workers? Why, that would be the Golden Arches of McDonald's. This Today Show story affirmed that news:

McDonald’s confirmed to TODAY.com that it surveyed a representative sample of American adults and found that 1 in 8 (just over, actually, at 13.7%) reported that they currently or formerly worked at a McDonald’s restaurant.

That statistic makes sense, seeing as you're never very far from a McDonald's. The popular fast-food chain says it has over 13,000 restaurants in operation across the country. And while the McDonald's site doesn't say just how many locations it has here in the Gopher State, 24/7 Wall Street says the number is close to 226.

Why So Many Minnesotans Got Their Start at McDonald’s

I have to admit that I'm one of those proud former McDonald's employees, as well. I worked for several years at my hometown McDonald's location in Schofield, Wisconsin, while I was in high school and college.

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And, of course, last year's presidential election thrust McDonald's into the spotlight, with Kamala Harris noting she had previously worked there while in college; President Donald Trump made an appearance at a McDonald's franchise in Pennsylvania during the 2024 campaign as well.

That staggering number also makes sense, seeing as McDonald's has been around for a long time. Over its time in business, it's known for having made changes to its menu and other parts of its restaurants over the years. Keep scrolling to check out some former favorite menu items that you'll no longer find under the Golden Arches.

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