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Partner Express - April 2020

Adult Career Pathways Updates

Due to the COVID-19 emergency, Adult Career Pathways (ACP) staff have been working from home since Monday, March 16. We are available to answer questions and provide technical assistance. The easiest way to reach us is through email.

Thank you to all who have contacted us with questions. We have been doing our best to discuss your questions and agree on answers that comply with pertinent regulations and policy. Answers to many of the questions we’ve received are incorporated in the Questions and Answers section, below. Thank you for your patience as we’ve worked through these issues.

Now, more than ever, we need providers to work with us in order to find innovative ways to continue and perhaps even expand services during this emergency period, and to be poised to respond to economic and employment challenges that are likely to follow on the heels of this health crisis. Please continue to send questions, present ideas for services that can be provider through grants that cannot be extended beyond June 30^th of this year, and bring to our attention best practices for providing employment training services remotely.

Questions and Answers for Providers about COVID-19 Impacts on ACP Grant Operations

	Question How will ACP grants be impacted if providers' close down or limit services during this period?
	Answer ACP is offering to extend SFY20 competitive grants through 12/31/2020. We had originally offered to extend SFY20 competitive grants until 9/30/2020, but have now added an additional three months. Coordinators will be contacting providers to evaluate their interest in the further extension. If you do not hear from your Coordinator, please email them. All SFY21 grants will be extended through 9/30/2021 at the time of issuance.

	Question Will extension of the SFY18-19 P2P grants funded, in part, by MJSP, be allowed?
	Answer SFY18-19 P2P grants cannot be extended. This includes any unspent MJSP funds.

	Question What does DEED recommend regarding continuing services during the COVID-19 emergency?
	Answer We encourage our partners to continue to safeguard the health and safety of employees and participants during this emergency. Try to do as much as possible using technology to interface with participants. This may include switching to on-line learning modules, providing case management via skype, zoom, telephone, or other electronic means, and modifying services to adapt them to remote learning. We encourage you to be innovative. I you have ideas about how you can transition to providing services remotely, please contact your coordinator to discuss them. We will be as flexible as allowed under applicable regulations and are open to considering all new ideas that will forward the original purpose of your grant(s).

	Question What is DEED doing to facilitate changes to our work that will allow us to continue to serve clients during the crisis even though those changes were not contemplated in our budget or work plan?
	Answer We encourage providers to suggest ways to shift from provision of services in person to provision of remote services. Changes that do not impact money can be documented and implemented without going through the formal modification process. Contact your grant coordinator to discuss suggestions you have more modifying in-person activities to an on-line venue. If your grant coordinator approves your suggestion and your suggestion does not impact funds, your grant coordinator will work with you to document the changes and this will be incorporated into your work plan without having to go through the standard modification process.
	For SFY18-19 P2P grants only, ACP funds remaining in any cost categories may be applied to any allowable costs without going through the complete modification process and procurement. For example, funds remaining in Direct Services could be applied to pay for Support Services. However, note these two very important points: (1) MJSP funds may not be spent on any services except MJSP approved Direct Training. (2) Administrative costs cannot exceed ten percent of all funds spent. Please note that you must still submit a request to amend and updated budget / budget detail spreadsheets showing the shift of funds between cost categories. Call your grant coordinator for paperwork or if you have questions.
	All monitoring will be conducted remotely during this period of emergency. If you have a grant or grants due for monitoring, a monitor will contact you to schedule a date and time for a virtual meeting and to request that documents be completed and/or collected and sent electronically. The monitor will review materials requested and provided. During the call, the monitor will review the guide with your and ask any particular questions about material provided. A file review will not be conducted.
	During this time, Requests for reimbursement (RPRs) need not have an actual signature. If a provider's authorized signer is not able to physically sign the RPR/FSR/CAPR, the authorized signer may approve via email with the following statement included: "By signing this report, I certify to the best of my knowledge and belief that the report is true, complete and accurate and the expenditures, disbursements and cash receipts are for the purposes and objectives set forth in the terms and conditions of this award. I am aware that any false, fictitious, or fraudulent information or the omission of any material fact, may subject me to criminal civil or administrative penalties for fraud, false statements, false claims, or otherwise."
	Please also be aware that if a provider shifts from in-person to online training, costs for computers and other electronic equipment may be paid from grant funds. If the provider says that the equipment is required, costs are allocated to Direct Training. If the provider does not require the equipment, costs are allocated to Support Services. Providers accessing Support Services must include the need for the equipment both in the participant's Individual Employment Plan and in WorkForce One case notes, and must include provision of the equipment in WorkForce One under the support tab. Remember that any purchases using grant funds must be necessary, reasonable, and allocable. This means that the purchase must align with the objectives/goals of the program; the costs must not exceed what a prudent person under prevailing circumstances would spend; the goods or services involved are chargeable or assignable to the program with relative benefits received.

	Question Can a provider continue to pay employees if the provider reduces or stops services?
	Answer DEED expects providers to do as much as they can to modify processes to be online. This may include having employees work to convert classroom trainings to be presented on-line. Contact your grant coordinator to discuss whether this work can be charged to Direct Services. Where ever possible, DEED encourages providers to have employees work remotely, to the extent that there is grant-related work to do. Work that may be done remotely includes, but is not limited to: o Updating and working on individual employment plans (IEP). o Updating participant information in WorkForce One. o Inputting support services to Workforce One. o Doing case management – telephone calls, skypes, one-one email exchanges, etc. o Participating in ACP monitoring as requested. We hope that these actions will reduce the need for lay-offs. If you do have to layoff employees, be sure to inform them that they may apply for unemployment benefits. See Question and Answer below, which applies to all Paid Time Off.

	Question If an employee becomes ill with COVID-19 or has to take time off to care for someone who is ill, may a provider pay them out of grant funds?
	Answer If the employee has paid time off that they will be using during their absence, and if the work plan and budget are clear about how that employee's time is allocated to the grant, the applicable percentage of their time may be charged to the grant. Contact your Program Coordinator to have DEED confirm whether grant funds are available and, if so, what proportion of their PTO can be covered by the grant.

	Question How will it reflect on us if we are not able to meet the goals set in our work plan as a result of the emergency?
	Answer We - providers, their participants and prospective participants, and DEED are all in this together. It is important for providers and DEED to continue to serve Minnesota's unemployed and under-employed populations during this time. Our ability to continue operating to the greatest extent possible will make it easier for us to respond once the crisis begins to recede, when we anticipate a surge in demand for the services providers offer. Try your hardest to meet goals, and DEED will make adjustments for limitations caused by COVID-19 on providers’ ability to meet work plan goals and spend down their budgets for SFY20 and SFY21 grants.

	Question May providers enroll participants electronically, foregoing face-to-face enrollment?
	Answer Participants may be enrolled electronically for the duration of the emergency. See the procedure below.

TEMPORARY PROCEDURE

DEED E&T

Electronic On-Boarding

In order to increase providers’ ability to continue providing services safely during the COVID-19 pandemic, the following procedure is effective immediately until further notice:

Providers may conduct electronic onboarding as follows:

Collect an applicant’s social security number verbally, over the phone
Required identification from the applicant may be:

Photocopied and sent through the mail
Photocopied, scanned, and sent via email
Photographed using a cell phone and email

Conduct and objective assessment of the applicant by phone, identifying elements for the individual employment plan (IEP).
Draft an IEP and mail (2 copies) or email the IEP to the applicant
Confirm the applicant’s agreement to the IEP The applicant may confirm agreement with the IEP by:

(i) signing a hard copy of the individualized employment plan (IEP) and (ii) returning the signed IEP by mail or email, or photographing the IEP with a cell phone and emailing the photograph
signing the IEP electronically and returning by email
sending an email confirming agreement and attaching the IEP
speaking directly with the provider by phone and confirming agreement with the IEP

Document that the applicant has agreed to the IEP

Note on the IEP that the participant has verbally agreed to the IEP, include the date the participant agreed, and the initials of the staff writing the note
“Activate” the IEP in Workforce One, by entering the date it was signed
Enter a detailed case note of the onboarding process in WF1
Copy/paste any email interaction into notes
Upload any pictures, or scanned emails (e.g. for the SS card or DL) to WF1 Electronic Document (EDS) as “attachments” to the client record. Contact your grant coordinator if you need technical assistance with this
Open the “local flag” activity to indicate documents may be pending and/or collected in an alternative manner

Providers must verify identity and social security number in person as soon as possible after the COVID-19 emergency is over

WorkForce One

In the March issue of Partner Express, we noted that we had requested a WorkForce One upgrade so that employment information can be pulled over to the Employment Retention activity. This change has not been implemented yet. Check the next Partner Express for an update.

Justice Impacted Participants

For recently released justice-impacted participants, a “face sheet” issued by a federal, state, or county corrections agency may serve as a 60-day placeholder for the participant’s:

full legal name,
date of birth, and potentially
social security number, if present (not all face sheets list this number)

In this context, Adult Career Pathways interprets “recently released” to mean released within the past 12 weeks.

A provider may enroll a participant using the face sheet as a placeholder to meet identification requirements. The face sheet placeholder is good for 60 days after the date of enrollment. When enrolling a participant using this placeholder, open the “local flag” activity in Workforce One as a reminder to verify the status of required documentation prior to the 60 day point. The Individual Employment Plan (IEP) for a participant enrolling with placeholder identification must include obtaining the required documentation as a short-term goal.

A provider may enroll a participant using placeholder identification in training. After 60 days, the participant must have the required documentation for name, date of birth, and social security number. If the participant does not have required documentation at 60 days, the provider should contact their program coordinator to inform them, discuss the barriers, and determine whether to extend the time. If it does not seem the documents can be acquired within a reasonable amount of additional time, the provider must exit the participant from the program as “found ineligible,” and back out all costs associated with the participant.

Performance Update

IMPORTANT DATE: Program Year 2019 Data Freeze Date is scheduled for July 10, 2020. Please have all your data entry up-to-date including all Measurable Skill Gains achieved by your participants during the timeframe of 07/01/2019 – 06/30/2020 into Workforce One no later than close of business 07/10/2020.

Should you have any performance or data entry questions, please contact the Federal Adult Programs Performance Coordinator, Amy Carlson, at amy.carlson@state.mn.us.

Dislocated Worker & Federal Adult Programs

Message from Dislocated Worker Leadership & Team

We thank you for your commitment to serving the people of Minnesota during this unprecedented time.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dislocated Worker staff began working remotely March 16. This is a precaution and to help slow the spread of the virus. We are doing everything we can to continue supporting you and the great work you do, as we work together to serve Minnesotans and navigate our ever-evolving new norma. The best way to reach us is through email.

The FAQ information below outlines many of the questions we’ve received along with their answers. We continue to receive many questions related to the current COVID-19 emergency. We understand the urgency of many of them and are continuing to work diligently to respond to them as quickly as possible.

We appreciate your patience and dedication to serving our participants.

Please let us know as additional questions arise. Please be safe and well.

Questions and Answers for Dislocated Worker Programs

	Question What is the protocol for the Dislocated Worker providers regarding face to face communication with our participants? Would the use of Skype and other Web-Ex technology apps be appropriate when conducting workshops and appointments with participants?
	Answer We encourage our partners to limit face to face interaction during this emergency as much as possible. Case management can be provided over the phone, via e-mail, or text, Skype, Web-Ex, etc. The use of communication technology to provide dislocated worker services such as workshops and appointments are appropriate.

	Question Is maintaining regular contact through email acceptable? What measures should we take to ensure compliance with program policy?
	Answer Yes, maintaining regular contact through email is acceptable. Providers need to demonstrate that contact was made with each participant at least once every 30 days. This is typically noted through case note in WF1. The following are acceptable examples of “live contact”: In-person conversation (limit this during this emergency) Telephone conversation (or voicemail from participant) Electronic message including email (may not include mass emails, unless participant responds directly to a mass email update) text message (SMS), instant message (IM), message sent via social media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, etc.), and Fax Postal mail update from participant

	Question What are the protocols for obtaining signatures or verifications given our state of emergency?
	Answer Options to consider include mailing forms for signatures, having participants send a photo of the required document (ensure it is legible), emailing or faxing it to their case managers. Ensure that you are case noting in WF1

	Question Will there be additional funds available should we see an uptick in the number of participants needing services?
	Answer Providers have the option to submit a supplemental funding request to the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Board (MJSP) for state DW funding. The process can be found here: https://apps.deed.state.mn.us/ddp/PolicyDetail.aspx?pol=524 If funds are needed urgently (before June), we will work with the MJSP Board to review as quickly as possible. If additional funds become available from the U.S Department of Labor, we will update our providers and work quickly to process the additional funds.

	Question There are concerns around a delay in spending money in a timely manner if training vendors begin social distancing practices and either slow down, cancel or postpone trainings that participants have enrolled in - will there be opportunities to extend grant funds if or when these situations arise?
	Answer For WIOA funds, we are following up with DOL and will update our partners on any guidance provided. For state DW funds, we will await guidelines from legislators.

	Question What is the plan for temporary or permanent laid off employees due to the Coronavirus pandemic?
	Answer Please inform any individuals affected by layoffs that they can apply for UI. Eligibility is on a case by case basis. However, we may see an uptick in the number of people who are laid off during this emergency. Many are losing their jobs through “no fault of their own” and may meet several eligibility criteria for dislocated worker program. Assess each person’s eligibility appropriately and enroll them in the appropriate program. Follow this link for the latest information on Unemployment Insurance: https://www.uimn.org/applicants/needtoknow/news-updates/covid-19.jsp

	Question What is the guidance for completing IEP's if providers cannot do them face to face?
	Answer IEP’s can be developed via phone. Case managers should try to get a signature by other means: Send the completed IEP via postal service with a self-addressed, stamped envelope, they sign and mail it back. Any other file documentation can also be mailed back to the case manager Case managers can email the completed document to the participant so they can print, sign and take a picture or scan and email back the signed document to the case manager. NOTE: If the participant doesn't have a computer, smart phone or if they are homeless, the case manager should case note these situations and have the document signed at the earliest opportunity (most likely after this emergency is over). NOTE: please reference your local policy regarding electronic communication as well.

	Question Are you still holding in-person Rapid Response meetings/events?
	Answer The Rapid Response Team will conduct Group Information Sessions as needed via Skype, Web-Ex, etc. For additional information, please contact Jason Wadell at Jason.wadell@state.mn.us


	Question Can we waive the math and reading assessments at the time being? Alternatively, can we test later only if the client will be getting training through our programs, and waive the others?
	Answer The math and reading assessments are only required if participant wants to attend training. It is recommended to give everyone an assessment regardless of them attending training so counselors know how to best counsel them (knowing their abilities to read postings, etc.) but it is not required until the counselor is approving them to attend training (to ensure they have the ability to successfully complete the training). Some assessments may be available online for free. For example: https://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip Others have fees associated with them. For example: https://signin.edits.net/ Please contact your program contact if you are interested receiving additional information. Please note that DEED recently made a change to the WIOA DW and ADULT assessment requirements for Basic Skills and Measurable Skills Gain- for participants entering credentialed training from BA to AA (it will be posted on the website soon).

	Question Can we mail support services while still tracking it and entering in WF1, along with a letter accompanying the support service to the client acknowledging we cannot replace if lost or stolen?
	Answer Yes, this is allowable if the support service is in alignment with participant’s plan. Case note this in WF1 as well.

	Question Can we start spending more in support services (in excess of current budget plans) even if a budget modification has not been pre-approved?
	Answer Yes, remember that there is no cost category limitation with WIOA program but for state DW, the cost category limitation for Support Services is 15% and 20% with a Waiver. NOTE: Contact your grant coordinator for review and approval and/or to discuss specifics, as we’re looking at these on a case by case basis.

	Question If our organization decides to close its physical office, who at DEED should we notify and what information do they need to know?
	Answer Please notify the DW grant specialists: rita.apaloo@state.mn.us, heather.moore@state.mn.us, sou.thao@state.mn.us

	Question If the grantee’s authorized signer is not able to physically sign the RPR/FSR/CAPR, can the authorized signer approve via email?
	Answer Yes, the authorized signer can approve via email with the following statement included: The 1st statement is for cash advances, the 2nd statement is for FSRs/RPRs. 1. By submitting this form, I certify that the request is in accordance with DEED cash management requirements and appropriate contract terms; the data reported is correct and the amount of the request is not in excess of immediate disbursement needs. 2. By signing this report, I certify to the best of my knowledge and belief that the report is true, complete and accurate and the expenditures, disbursements and cash receipts are for the purposes and objectives set forth in the terms and conditions of this award. I am aware that any false, fictitious, or fraudulent information or the omission of any material fact, may subject me to criminal civil or administrative penalties for fraud, false statements, false claims, or otherwise.

**Please note that things are changing rapidly so we encourage you to view the latest news and information regarding COVID-19 through DEED News Center DEED News Center on COVID-19: https://mn.gov/deed/newscenter/covid/ and continue reaching out to program staff with your questions.

Helpful Links:

Covid-19 (Coronavirus) and Unemployment Benefits: https://www.uimn.org/applicants/needtoknow/news-updates/covid-19.jsp

Office of the Governor – COVID 19 Response and Preparation: https://mn.gov/governor/covid-19/

Information and resources for employers: https://mn.gov/deed/newscenter/covid/employers/

DEED News Center on COVID-19: https://mn.gov/deed/newscenter/covid/

Funding Streams Survey – Thank You

Thank you to everyone who completed the WorkforceOne Funding Streams Survey. It closed on Friday, March 20. Your feedback matters to us and we appreciate that you took the time to share your thoughts and ideas.

Dislocated Worker Team Working Remotely

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dislocated Worker staff began working remotely March 16, as are a majority of DEED’s staff. This is a precaution and to help slow the spread of the virus. We are doing everything we can to continue supporting you and the great work you do, as we work together to serve Minnesotans and navigate our ever-evolving new normal. We appreciate your patience and partnership.

Trade Adjustment Assistance

From the TAA team:

Thank you for your teamwork and flexibility as we all transition to new routines and face extraordinary challenges in our professional and personal lives. We are dedicated to providing exceptional customer service and are here for you and our DW/TAA customers the best that we can. Please email me (Sarah.Saito@state.mn.us) or our general TAA mailbox with questions and/or ideas on how we can best support you. Thank you for your remarkable commitment; we are in this together!

Response to Department of Labor Monitoring

As a response to Department of Labor (DOL) monitoring, regarding effectiveness and efficiency of operations, specifically involving the use of TAA funds as the primary source of funding, TAA is changing the way we track eligible customers. This includes every customer that the Dislocated Worker (DW) program serves who’s eligible under any TAA petition whether or not that person is accessing TAA benefits/services. In an effort to more effectively record instances of TAA/Dislocated Worker co-enrollment, there is now a new activity in WF1 titled “TAA Co-Enrollment”.

We ask that DW staff take the following extra steps when enrolling a new participant:

Check to see if the person is found on a TAA Worker list- this search can be done by selecting “TAA Worker” in the Search dropdown box and search by name. Additionally , if you know the petition number or employer name, you can view the worker list by searching “TAA Petition” under the “Manage Program” dropdown box.
If you have person who is listed under a TAA petition notify TAA by email: deed.taa.@state.mn.us

Note: For any existing DW enrolled TAA eligible participants TAA will review & open the activity appropriately.

Checking for potential TAA eligibility will assist DEED in tracking expenditures normally funded by DW for career services that could possibly now be funded by TAA.

TAA Responses to Recent Questions

Contacting TAA staff

TAA staff are working remotely until further notice. Please use email and, if possible, have customers avoid using USPS or fax to send TAA documents to eliminate delays in services. General questions or urgent requests can be emailed to deed.taa@state.mn.us as this email is monitored Monday-Friday from 8:00am-4:30pm.

Training Progress Reports (TPR) are still required every 60 days

TPR and Online Training (one class to all classes):

Most school officials and online instructors complete the actual TPR form and return it to the customer
When that is not possible, in place of the top portion of the form, obtain an email from an advisor or school official answering the following:

Is the student making satisfactory progress?
Is the student currently enrolled full-time?
Has the student dropped any classes this term?
Is it possible for the student to complete the training by [approved TAA end date]?

In place of instructor signatures, obtain an email from each instructor answering the following:

Is the student making satisfactory progress?
Is the student participating regularly/engaged in training?

TAA updated the Training Progress Report to be more e-signature friendly: TAA TPR 2020

Transportation assistance

Students can only claim mileage for days they travel to campus for scheduled class. If classes are online, it is not appropriate for students to claim mileage.

Computers

If a customer hadn’t previously requested a computer, and now needs one for online courses, please have the customer complete the “TAA Computer and High Technology Tools Request” from this site - https://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/dislocated-worker/counselors/forms/ and submit it to the respective TAA Specialist. TAA does not need the customer to submit quotes. General specifications for online students are posted here by Minn State https://www.minnstate.edu/online/computerreqs.html

Tax Time

Customers involved in TAA approved training in which TAA pays all qualified tuition and related expenses (transportation, books, required items, exam fees, etc.), do not have to report this on their taxes. This is considered an exception to requirements for form 1098-T as the expenses are covered by a formal billing arrangement between the training institution and a government entity (TAA).

Only RTAA, UI, and TRA are taxable as they are considered income. UI/TRA will send the appropriate IRS-required documents to each customer as needed.

Summer Credits for TAA Customers

Minnesota State institutions (formerly MnSCU) define full-time for TAA students during the summer as six credits. The University of MN and private institutions have different criteria. DW Counselors, please have TAA customers check full- time requirements of their learning institutions if not attending a Minnesota State institution.

Summer Credits and TRA Eligibility

In order to remain TRA eligible through summer, TAA customers must be full-time students (as defined by the school) and not have a break greater than 30 business days between classes. So, what happens when the school doesn’t provide degree focused classes during the summer? TAA asks students to explore options that will enhance their education or career. This may require taking an online course or taking a course from another institution that will transfer to the primary institution. TAA will pay tuition, books, and required fees of non-required classes but reserves the right to limit reimbursements for coursework that is merely satisfying the full time credit requirement but not enhancing student education or career. For example, TAA will not pay for a digital camera for a Digital Photography class or athletic shoes for a walking class. Requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Please send summer course schedules to TAA as soon as possible so TAA has adequate time to generate purchase orders to the appropriate school(s).

RTAA: Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance

It is extremely important before the customer signs the RTAA application they have a current UI account and have provided the DW Counselor with the 3 required documents:

Clear, readable copy of driver’s license, or ID with date of birth or Birth certificate.
Copy of Last Pay advice (Pay stub) from Trade affected employer that shows hours worked 32 or more. (Many agencies will request this information when enrolling clients so they have it on file. Often as time passes the information from the previous employer is not as readily available).
Copy of 1^st Pay advice (Pay stub) from the new employer / employers that shows working the required 32 or more hours. We cannot back pay for weeks without this!

In the future Department of Labor may be requiring us to provide a determination to the customer within 5 days of their signature, if we do not have the correct information to make a determination, this will delay benefits to them. Right now we have been just requesting the missing information by e-mail, phone call or by mail. If this requirement is put in place, a notice with instructions will be placed in a future newsletter.

TAA Petition Updates

Here’s the link to check the status of petitions with U.S. Department of Labor https://www.doleta.gov/tradeact/petitioners/taa_search_form.cfm

Pending DOL’s investigation

95096 – Infor.com, St. Paul
95285 – DEE Inc., Crookston
95306 – CenturyLink, Minneapolis
95331 – Tenneco (Federal Mogul), Lake City
95375 – Henkel Corp., Chanhassen; now under Boyd Corporation, Pleasanton, CA
95412 – Bluestem Brands Inc., St. Cloud
95423 – MNStar Technologies Inc., Grand Rapids
95467 – Wisconsin Central LTD, Proctor
95536 – Johnson Controls, Plymouth
95561 – Pace Industries, Arden Hills (amendment to include temp agency)
95581 – Blue Cross Blue Shield, Virginia and Eagan (Additional worker groups)
95533 – Semling-Menke Company, Merrill, WI (MN union filed petition)
95703 – HED Cycling Products, Roseville
95764 – Landis Gyr, Pequot Lakes
95783 – United Health Group, Minnetonka
95813 – US Steel, Mountain Iron
95830 – Wayzata Home Products, Edina

Certified by DOL

95770 – Thermo Ramsey, LLC (Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.) – Chemical Analysis Division, Minneapolis
94627 – Toppan Merrill, St. Paul – Century City, CA
95615 – Restwell Mattress Company, Eden Prairie
95616 – Sleep Number Corporation, Minneapolis
95781 – The Travelers Indemnity Company, Saint Paul

Denied by DOL

95440 – Gerdau, Duluth
95210 – Quad Graphics, Shakopee
95270 – Seneca, Rochester
95559 – Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, Minneapolis

Upcoming or recent information sessions

95570 – Hutchinson Technology, Inc. Hutchinson, March 10-11
95466 – Accenture, Minneapolis – Info sessions had been scheduled & cancelled for 3/19; now TBD
95377 – Modern Tool Inc., Coon Rapids – Info sessions TBD
95539 – U.S. Bank National Association, Portland Columbia Center, Portland, OR (may include remote workers in MN)

Labor Market Information Updates

By The Numbers

182,610 : The number of applications that were filed for Unemployment Insurance benefits from March 16 to March 25 in Minnesota.

5.9% : That is 5.9% of our labor force – and we were already ranked near the top for states when the Washington Post published this article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/03/26/it-was-worst-week-economy-decades-pain-is-just-beginning/

291,043 : There were 15,397 leisure and hospitality establishments providing 291,043 jobs in the state of Minnesota through the 3^rd quarter of 2019, according to data from DEED’s Quarterly Census of Employment & Wages program. That is 10.1% of total employment in the state.

56.0% : Through the second quarter of 2019, well over half (56%) of the leisure and hospitality workforce in Minnesota was under 35 years of age, including almost one-third (32.9%) that were 14 to 24 years.

13,978 : In addition to the 16,354 jobs at personal care services establishments in Minnesota, there is a significant amount of self-employment in personal services, accounting for 13,978 self-employed people and more than $387.5 million in total sales receipts, an average of $27,724 sales per firm.

$944 : Median rent was $944 in Minnesota according to the 2018 American Community Survey, and nearly half (46.6%) of occupied housing units paying rent were spending at least 30% of their income on rent. Clay County (55.7%) has the highest percent of renters spending at least 30% of their income on rent; while Cook County (26.0%) is the least rent-burdened.

Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL) Update

Effective immediately, all inquiries about the ETPL should be directed to a new email account ETPL.deed@state.mn.us.

Previously Rachel Vilsack was the direct contact for ETPL-related questions, and many employment counselors and staff are used to contacting her directly. However, Rachel ends her employment with DEED on March 31 (to begin a new job in Washington DC) so you will not get a response if you email or call her after March 31.

Success Stories

Tell people about the good work you do

You do great work! Share your success stories online so we can help share the good news! Success stories could be featured on CareerForceMN.com, in electronic newsletters, in annual reports, with news media and potentially in other ways, too! The need to share our success was one of the key findings coming out of culture workshops held with staff and partners around Minnesota and it’s a top recommendation from the communications task force.

Success stories can feature a career seeker who found success thanks to your work, an employer who found needed talent thanks to CareerForce, or a staff person or partner who went above and beyond and deserves a special shout out. Make sure you complete and submit the release form you’ll be prompted to download when you go to the success story submission link above.

We want this e-Newsletter to meet your needs! We encourage you to send your comments and suggestions to deed.taa@state.mn.us
Find past issues of Partner Express here.

Wanting to subscribe to this newsletter? Contact us at deed.taa@state.mn.us with your request!