This cluster is great for anyone who likes structure in their lives. Troubleshooting skills, inventiveness and manual dexterity are also plusses. If you enjoy figuring out how things work or piecing together equipment, chances are you will enjoy manufacturing.

With refineries in southeast South Dakota and oil fields in western South Dakota and into Wyoming, there is a statewide shortage of welders and pipefitters as an aging workforce approaches retirement in those occupations, which are two of the higher-end paying jobs in the cluster.