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 June 2024
Summer has arrived, bringing with it the chance to get out and enjoy the beautiful Minnesota weather. It's also a busy time in Ramsey County with lots of activities and opportunities to connect with others.
This month's newsletter highlights just some of the resources and events happening throughout the month in our community. Thank you to our many partners working on behalf of our residents. Together we can ensure that everyone in Ramsey County has a pathway to opportunity.
- Ling Becker, WIB Executive Director
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The Twin Cities Metro Workforce Development Boards are establishing a new partnership with Goodwill Easter Seals, the Urban League, the Saint Paul Area Chamber and the Minneapolis Regional Chamber for the MN Skills-Based Hiring Accelerator program. The program assists employers to build a plan to attract, hire and retain the best talent through workshops and other supportive resources with the goals of:
- Rebuilding an employers’ hiring process with a skills and competency-based approach by focusing on candidates’ capabilities rather than credentials.
- Improving retention by rebuilding job descriptions, interview processes, onboarding and more.
- Increasing diversity among your workforce using data-driven tools that lead to more equitable hiring processes.
- Providing networking with talent-sourcing organizations.
Content is tailored for each organization’s needs along with individualized coaching.
Learn more.
Inclusive Employer Toolkit offers free resources to employers
Workforce Solutions and the WIB are leading efforts to support employers to address discrimination and unconscious bias within their organizations. One of these efforts is to provide an Inclusive Employer Toolkit. The toolkit aims to help employers provide a more welcoming and inclusive workplace for all by offering practices to build diversity, equity, and inclusion in the areas of employee recruitment, hiring, onboarding and retention.
The Inclusive Employer Toolkit is now available online and can also be downloaded.
View the toolkit.
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Job Connect is Ramsey County’s job board created in collaboration with local chambers of commerce, economic development organizations and municipalities. It is free for employers and job seekers to use and includes several unique features, such as the ability to search for youth friendly jobs and by transit accessibility, keyword and location using an interactive map. Consider posting your organization’s job openings and sharing with individuals looking for jobs in Ramsey County.
Learn more!
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On May 9, dozens of graduating high school seniors turned out to meet with employers and training providers at Ramsey County’s first Launch Pad event. The career and resource fair for soon-to-be grads was held at the Eastside YMCA in Saint Paul.
Thank you to the 26 employers, schools and training providers that participated:
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 In 2024, 11 businesses in Ramsey County are participating in the Inclusive Workplaces Cohort, a 9-month peer learning program to advance equity, diversity and inclusion in their organizations. One of the participating organizations will be spotlighted each month on social media and in the WIB newsletter. This month's featured organization is Gillette Childrens.
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Members of the WIB are key decision makers within their organizations and experts in the workforce arena appointed by either the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners or the City of Saint Paul Mayor.
Sara Garbe
Workforce Development Supervisor at CareerForce in Saint Paul
Sara was recently appointed to the WIB by the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners. She has over 15 years of experience in workforce development and is passionate about providing quality services to job seekers and employers.
Welcome Sara!
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8th Annual Union Job & Resource Fair
June 20, 1-6 p.m.
Electrical Industry Building, 1330 Conway St, Saint Paul
Join us for an event intended to connect individuals in our community with potential employers and local resources to create pathways towards a union career. Job seekers will also:
- Discover your path to a union career!
- Earn while you learn and rise above minimum wage!
- Learn about the advantages of a union job!
Learn more.
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Fair Chance Job Fair
June 25, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Goodwill Easter Seals, 553 Fairview Ave North, Saint Paul
Join us for the Fair Chance Job Fair to connect with over 20 Fair Chance employers open to hiring justice-impacted individuals! Also, meet Richard Owen, a fair chance employment consultant that helps organizations navigate the process of justice-impacted employment candidates.
More information.
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 Midway Area Job Fair
June 26, 10 a.m.-2 p.m..
Allianz Field, 400 Snelling Ave North, Saint Paul
Are you looking to get back to work or advance your career? Bring your resume and your best first impression to this in-person job fair! Connect with local employers that have current job openings. The fair will be held outdoors. In the event of rain on June 26, the event will be moved to July 10.
Employers include:
- Saint Paul Public Schools
- Minnesota State Fair
- City of Saint Paul
- Teachers On Call
- Fairview Health Services
- Olympic Companies, Inc.
- Doherty
- Regions Hospital
- Minnesota United FC
- Delaware North
- Marsden Services
- American Security & Investigations
- Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota
- BEST Crowd Management - A GardaWorld Company
- Small Sums
- Mississippi Market Natural Foods Co-op
- ACR Homes / ACR Healthcare
- MN DEED / CareerForce
- And more!
Learn more.
Employer of the Day
Tuesdays, 3–5 p.m., at the Roseville Library
Looking for a new job? Every Tuesday, employers will visit the Ramsey County Library in Roseville to talk about job opportunities in their organization. Bring your resumé and your best first impression to get hired.
Featured employers:
If your business is interested in being an Employer of the Day, please contact employerservices@ramseycounty.us.
Trainer of the Day
Tuesdays, 11 a.m.–1 p.m., at the Roseville Library
Meet community based, no-cost skill training programs that are recruiting participants for upcoming classes. Participating in a community based training program is a way to build an up- to-date skill set. When training is complete, get introduced to employers looking for certified trainees and start a new and rewarding career. Courses range from Automotive to IT to Healthcare and much more. See list of possible training courses here.
Featured trainers:
All are welcome.
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Successful Employer Training
Every third Friday, 11 a.m.-noon
Ramsey County is thrilled to announce the re-launch of the Successful Employer Training (S.E.T.), a program designed in collaboration with World Youth Connect. This initiative is specifically tailored to bridge generational and cultural gaps between Ramsey County employers and our region's dynamic young workforce. As Minnesota's most diverse county, we are dedicated to empowering local employers to create inclusive and youth-friendly workplaces.
Following valuable feedback from local employers, we have enhanced our training modules to better meet the needs of today’s youth supervisors. The revamped resource now offers refined strategies for effective youth and young adult onboarding, retention, and communication, ensuring a thriving work environment for all.
This complimentary monthly training is open to all Ramsey County employers, whether you're new to supervising young people or looking to improve your existing skills. Join us every third Friday from 11 a.m. to noon and equip yourself to excel alongside the next generation of workers.
Register.
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 Navigating the rise of driver's license requirements in Ramsey County's workforce
Minnesota employers continue to face a workforce shortage, totaling approximately 164,000 job openings in March 2024. Reducing hiring bottlenecks is imperative to help match eager job seekers with businesses in need of potential workers. In Ramsey County, one trend stands out prominently as an opportunity for the workforce landscape: the increasing demand for driver's licenses as a hiring credential across various job sectors. Facilitating driver’s license procurement is essential to developing a proficient and mobile workforce to foster business attraction and overall regional economic growth. This necessity is addressed in detail in the RealTime Talent report titled Top 10 Trends to Watch in Ramsey County’s Workforce Landscape.
A driver’s license is a well-known symbol marking a step toward independence, responsibility and adulthood. Yet, that license to drive is also becoming a ticket to work for many young people. Access to transportation serves as a significant determinant of social and economic opportunity. Additionally, a driver's license is often a prerequisite for numerous jobs that have the potential to lift individuals out of poverty, including roles in construction, manufacturing, healthcare, human services, and the automotive industry.
According to recent data in the report, RealTime Talent indicates the volume of job postings in Ramsey County requiring a driver's license has risen 7%, and those requiring a CDL rose 31% since 2021. Those trends are significant, considering a 9% drop in all job posting volume in the same timeframe. Erin Olson, Senior Director of Strategic Research with RealTime Talent, underscores the critical need to ensure that these requirements do not become barriers to employment access.
Continue to the full article.
Top 10 Trends to Watch in Ramsey County’s Workforce Landscape from RealTime Talent is a compass, guiding Ramsey County through the complexities of a transforming workforce. The trends identified pave the way for a resilient, innovative and inclusive future. Each trend will be explored in-depth throughout 2024, charting the course for Ramsey County's workforce in the coming years.
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