August 2015

June 2015 Unemployment Rate for Minneapolis

The June 2015 unemployment rate rose .4% from May 2015 to 3.9%, resulting in just over 9,000 residents unemployed and actively seeking employment. The federal government’s estimate of the Minneapolis labor force dropped slightly in June, down 766 to 232,208. Despite the slight slips in June, the year-over-year trend for June shows both increased labor force participation and lower unemployment from one year ago. June’s 3.9% unemployment rate in Minneapolis is the same as the State of Minnesota.

Minnesota Adds 2,900 Jobs in June

Minnesota gained 2,900 jobs in June – a welcome reversal after employers cut 200 jobs in May, according to figures released by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

The state has added 41,602 jobs since June 2014, a gain of 1.5 percent. U.S. job growth was 2.1 percent during the same period.

Find the whole press release here.

For Your Calendar

Minnesota Workforce Council Summer Meeting

Aug. 4-6, Duluth, MN

Visit the MWCA website for updates.

Minneapolis Workforce Council Meetings

Sept. 15, 8-9:30 AM

Nov. 17, 8-9:30 AM

Women In Manufacturing SUMMIT 2015

September 23-25, Noon- 2 PM, Minneapolis

See more at the Women in Manufacturing website. 

STEP-UP Worksite Walking Tour

Hosted by the City of Minneapolis, the STEP-UP Worksite Walking Tour focused on the Cedar Riverside neighborhood where 42 interns are working at ten organizations. The tour began at the Carlson School of Management with coffee and welcome addresses from Minneapolis City Council member Abdi Warsame and Minneapolis Workforce Council Chair Carolyn Roby. Approximately 70 tour participants were divided into two groups that were led by STEP-UP Tour intern guides to the Somali American Parent Association (SAPA), the Riverside Plaza Tenants Association, and the People’s Center Health Services. Tour groups watched presentations and learned about the STEP-UP worksites and internship positions and spoke with the STEP-UP interns working at each site. After the walking tour, the groups returned to Carlson School of Management for lunch catered by Afro Deli. The event ended with a STEP-UP Intern and employer panel discussion over lunch.  

What’s Up 612!

The Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board’s (YCB) Minneapolis Afterschool Network has launched its citywide program finder. What’s Up 612! is an online resource of things to do outside of the classroom in Minneapolis. The program finder is a citywide resource where youth, parents, educators, youth workers and persons who know young people can find afterschool and summer activities for children and youth ages 5-21. What’s Up 612! brings together afterschool opportunities offered by the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minneapolis Public Schools, Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board and community organizations. The website is one component of the YCB Minneapolis Afterschool Network, the citywide out-of-school time system created to ensure all of Minneapolis young people have access to the kinds of comprehensive, high quality afterschool programs that support positive youth development, educational achievement, and career and community readiness. 

The Benefits of Hiring Bilingual Employees

Bilingual employees offer employers many advantages. Studies have found that people who can speak more than one language enhance the workplace; these individuals are often skilled multitaskers with impressive communication skills. Bilingual employees can also make the workplace more productive for others.

A study from the University of Phoenix Research Institute found that demand for bilingual employees is expected to rise over the next ten years, with 70 percent of employers predicting Spanish-speaking skills will be highly sought after and 42 percent believing Chinese-speaking skills will be popular among job candidates. 

• But bilingual employees offer other benefits including:
• Bilingual employees can help their organizations reach international consumers
• Localization to individual regions is made easier 
• You have a multilingual proofreader on staff
• Bilingual employees are better multi-taskers
• Bilingual employees have excellent communication and listening skills

 Read more on this topic here.