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 October 2024
Greetings workforce partners!
Welcome to October, bringing cooler evenings, falling leaves and two important recognitions: Manufacturing Month and National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).
Manufacturing is a key driver of our local economy, offering a wide range of career paths and growth opportunities. I invite you to check out the county's Manufacturing Month webpage featuring job seeker resources, upcoming events, industry statistics and stories about just a few of the innovative products make right here in Ramsey County!
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We also want to shine a light on the valuable contributions of workers with disabilities and the importance of creating inclusive work environments. You can find great information on the Office of Disability Employment Policy’s webpage, including ideas for employers and employees and a short video about NDEAM.
Thank you for your partnership and commitment to fostering a skilled, adaptable, and inclusive workforce in Ramsey County.
- Elisa Rasmussen, WIB Chair
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Did you know manufacturing jobs in Minnesota pay an average annual wage of $79,000 and $95,315 in Ramsey County? That’s 10% higher than the state’s overall average private sector wage.
Find more interesting facts and industry information on the Manufacturing Month page on the county's website! You can also learn about Innovize, MME Group and VitalPath, just a few of the many local businesses creating high-quality products with skilled expertise in our community.
Follow Ramsey County on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram throughout the month to learn more about the exciting things happening in manufacturing!
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by Tim O'Neill, Regional Labor Market Analyst, DEED
The Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development (DEED) recently released updated job vacancy data, covering the state of Minnesota and its regions. This data, housed in the Job Vacancy Survey (JVS) online tool, reveals hiring demand for specific industries and occupations. With Manufacturing Month just around the corner, let's look at how hiring demand is trending in the Metro Area's Manufacturing sector.
According to DEED's JVS data, employers in the Metro Area reported just over 6,800 Manufacturing job vacancies in 2023. This represents a 24.9% decrease in the number of such vacancies over-the-year, equivalent to about 2,300 vacancies; but is still the third highest number ever recorded. This trend mirrors the wider labor market, where the region witnessed a decrease in total job vacancies for all industries of 20.3% between 2022 and 2023. It should be noted that this analysis compares annual 2023 data with second quarter 2022 data
Read the full article.
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 Ramsey County Inclusive Employer Toolkit has been an invaluable resource in designing our employee hiring and retention strategy. By adopting many of the hiring strategies, we no longer struggle to find essential employees for our mission-critical positions. We are grateful for the toolkit and how it helped us to pivot our HR strategy,” said Donna Rapacz, Director of Business Operations at Merrick Inc.
New resources on the topics of skills based hiring and creative employee benefits packages were recently added to the Toolkit. You can view the Toolkit online or it 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. You can also search for jobs in specific industries, such as manufacturing.
Consider posting your organization’s job openings and sharing with individuals looking for jobs in Ramsey County.
Learn more!
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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 Opportunity Community Services.
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Donna Rapacz
Director of Business Operations, Merrick Inc.
Member since 2023
What are some of the benefits of employing individuals with disabilities?
There are many benefits of hiring individuals with disabilities—whether on-site, off-site, or through direct hire with the support of a job coach provided by Merrick:
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Tailored Support: Job coaches provide individualized support to employees, ensuring they receive the training and resources needed to succeed in their roles.
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Increased Job Retention: With ongoing support from a job coach, individuals are more likely to stay in their positions long-term. The coach helps address challenges early, fostering a smoother transition into the workplace.
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Enhanced Skills Development: Job coaches facilitate skill-building through hands-on training and feedback, enabling employees to develop both job-specific skills and soft skills, such as communication and teamwork.
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Customized Job Matching: By working closely with employers, job coaches can help identify the best fit for the employee and employer, ensuring a match for everyone involved.
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Reduced Supervision Burden: With a job coach, employers can enjoy reduced pressure regarding supervision and training, as the coach takes an active role in supporting the employee.
By partnering with Merrick, Inc, employers not only gain dedicated and skilled workers but also contribute to a more inclusive society, making a meaningful impact in their communities.
Learn more about Donna.
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Employer of the Day
Tuesdays, 3–5 p.m., at the Maplewood Library
Looking for a new job? Every Tuesday, employers will visit the Ramsey County Library in Maplewood 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
Thursdays, 3–5 p.m., at the Maplewood 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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Employer of the Day
Thursdays, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at CareerForce in Saint Paul
Take advantage of this opportunity to come in and speak face-to-face with a representative from local businesses about their open positions.
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 Fall Youth Networking Event
Oct. 3, 2-4:30 p.m.
Rondo Community Library - Multipurpose Room, 461 Dale St N, Saint Paul
Join Workforce Solutions, school partners, employers and others across the youth employment ecosystem for some food, fun and conversations.
During this time, you'll have the chance to:
- Network with other youth serving organizations across Ramsey County.
- Hear about the exciting work that is happening at the ECMC Foundation.
- Celebrate and learn about the work happening across the county.
- Do you have pictures or highlights from summer program? Getting ready to launch a new program this Fall? Share this with us via YouthWorks@co.ramsey.mn.us.
To register.
Future of Work: Manufacturing
Oct. 7, 10-11:30 a.m.
Rondo Community Library - 461 Dale Street N, Saint Paul
Join other local workforce development professionals for an exciting event discussing the future of work in manufacturing. Explore the latest trends, technologies and opportunities shaping the career pathways in this industry. Connect with experts, network with other workforce professionals, and gain valuable insights to support job seekers as they seek to enter or ladder their careers.
A light breakfast will be provided.
Register today!
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Community Nights
Oct. 15, 6-8 p.m.
Black Tech Talent HQ, 867 Pierce Butler Route, Saint Paul
Join Black Tech Talent for the kickoff of their "Community Nights" series featuring Saint Paul City Council and Full Stack Saint Paul Co-Chair, Cheniqua Johnson!
This series is about having an intimate conversation between leaders and community members about the past, present and future so that we can all work together towards progress. There will be a fireside chat followed by Q&A and networking.
Learn more and register.
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 MN Skills-Based Hiring Accelerator Workshops
Oct. 29, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Better Business Bureau - Burnsville
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. Employers can participate in a half-day in-person workshop to receive in-depth learning on:
- Rebuilding an employer's 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.
Following participation in a workshop, employers have access to monthly Community of Practice calls where they can dive into questions about the skills-based hiring process and receive one-on-one coaching from facilitators.
Learn more about MN Skills-Based Hiring Accelerator.
 Employer Webinar - Unlocking Inclusivity: How ERAF Can Transform Your Business
October session date coming soon
Through the Department of Employment and Economic Development’s (DEED’s) Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund (ERAF), small to mid-sized Minnesota businesses can request reimbursements for up to $30,000 in expenses related to providing reasonable accommodations for job applicants and employees with disabilities.
This opportunity not only simplifies the process of making your workplace accessible but also connects fantastic businesses with outstanding talent. Don't miss out on learning how your business can thrive through inclusivity and strategic support.
It’s simple, it’s easy, and it connects great workers with great businesses. Learn more and register for an upcoming information session.
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The modern digital workplace facing businesses and employers has created increasingly sophisticated threats targeting businesses and communities. In the presentation titled "Top 10 Trends to Watch in Ramsey County’s Workforce Landscape”, Erin Olson, Senior Director of Strategic Research at RealTime Talent, underscored the pressing need for more robust cybersecurity measures. “The complexity and frequency of cyber threats are increasing at an unprecedented rate. Businesses need to be proactive, not reactive, in safeguarding their operations,” Olson emphasized.
A January 2024 Flashpoint report identifies the top cybersecurity threats currently bombarding businesses. These threats, driven by technological advancements and the growing sophistication of cybercriminals, necessitate immediate attention from both public and private sectors.
Continue to the full article.
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