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 December 2024
Happy Holidays, Workforce Partners!
As we wrap up 2024, I want to thank you for your efforts to support Ramsey County’s residents and businesses. This month, we’re celebrating achievements like the updated Ramsey County Means Business website and the success of the Inclusive Workplaces Cohort. Don’t forget to check out the Inclusive Employer Toolkit and upcoming events like the Inclusive Workforce Summit in January and the Skills-Based Hiring Accelerator workshops. These tools, programs and events are helping us build a stronger, more inclusive economy.
I look forward to continuing this work with you in 2025!
Elisa Rasmussen, WIB Chair.
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 The Ramsey County Means Business website recently underwent an exciting refresh, enhancing its functionality and resources to better support the region’s workforce and businesses. The updated site now offers an improved user experience with streamlined navigation, making it easier than ever to access critical tools and information. Whether you’re a job seeker exploring new opportunities, an employer looking for talent, or an organization focused on workforce development, the refreshed site provides resources designed to meet your needs.
Highlights include a free job board - Job Connect, a listing of workforce training programs, and a directory of local community organizations offering workforce services that drive inclusive economic growth. The refresh highlights Ramsey County’s commitment to fostering a thriving, equitable economy by ensuring that businesses and residents have the support and information they need to succeed.
Visit Ramsey County Means Business today to explore the new features and discover how it can help you achieve your goals.
Today, members of the WIB and cohort participants celebrated the completion of the third Inclusive Workplaces Cohort, bringing together local business leaders and community champions for this special event. The completion of the year-long cohort marks another step toward fostering workplaces that reflect the strength and diversity of Ramsey County.
During the event, attendees heard from cohort members about their journey toward creating more inclusive organizational cultures. This cohort included eight organizations representing a range of industries collectively employing nearly 2,400 individuals. Congratulations to everyone participating in the cohort for their hard work, commitment, and leadership in building a more inclusive future for our community!
The cohort was facilitated by ADR Consulting Group, who fostered a learning environment that emphasized intersectionality, accountability, and open dialogue. The cohort program was spearheaded by the WIB’s Equity Committee with support from the Partnership & Outreach Committee, further demonstrating the WIB’s dedication to addressing systemic inequities and promoting equitable economic opportunities in Ramsey County.
For more information on the Inclusive Workplaces Cohort, visit ramseycounty.us/InclusiveWorkplaces.
 Ramsey County Commissioner Mai Chong Xiong joined the WIB and the ADR Consulting team to recognize the 2024 Inclusive Workplaces Cohort.
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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Happy Holidays from the Workforce Innovation Board of Ramsey County! Thank you for your partnership in supporting our residents and the business community. We look forward to continuing our work together to build a thriving and inclusive economy in the year ahead.
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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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 Monthly small business call Dec. 10, 2 p.m.
Join the monthly small business call! This is an opportunity for small business owners to have a conversation with business experts and their peers.
This month's call topic will cover the Season of Small Business Campaign. This campaign aims to encourage widespread support for small businesses and showcase the robust support network available across the state because small businesses are the backbone of our economy and make our communities vibrant. #MNSmallBizBigImpact.
You may submit a question ahead of the event by contacting Mark.Simmer@state.mn.us.
Join the conversation.
 MN Skills-Based Hiring Accelerator Workshops Jan. 28, 2025, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., CareerForce in Chaska
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.
Save the date for the second Inclusive Workforce Summit on January 29, 2025 at the Science Museum of MN. This half day event will help businesses learn about, connect to, and access workforce tools and resources. Find new talent pipelines and discover tools for implementing innovative and effective hiring practices to increase inclusiveness in your organization.
There will be a variety of breakout sessions led by workforce experts, a training resources fair to connect with community training programs that develop skilled workers for multiple industries and opportunities to network with fellow hiring professionals, learn from experts. A complimentary lunch and parking voucher are included. This event is free and open to local organizations seeking solutions for meeting workforce needs.
Details and the link to register are coming soon.
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Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to redefine the future of workforce optimization nationwide. Research encompassing all industries forecasts GDP increases of more than 25% where AI is widely adopted. The potential impact of AI on the Ramsey County, MN, workforce landscape is just as expansive in terms of enhancing productivity and revolutionizing decision-making.
In the "Top 10 Trends to Watch in Ramsey County’s Workforce Landscape,” Erin Olson, Senior Director of Strategic Research at RealTime Talent, highlighted AI as a critical player in these forthcoming changes. According to Olson, AI will lead in work enablement, operational efficiency, and career development, making preparing our workforce for these exciting developments crucial.
Olson states that one of the most transformative aspects of AI is its ability to “drive efficiencies across industries, particularly in many white-collar roles, by automating repetitive tasks." In fact, a study by the US National Bureau of Economic Research indicated that generative AI-based conversational assistants have increased productivity by 34% for entry-level workers and 14% overall.
Continue to the full article.
The 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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