September is National Workforce Development Month - the perfect time to heighten awareness of the value of the local workforce development system and the tremendous impact local workforce boards make in helping people find gainful employment and advance their careers. This national focus also highlights the critical efforts of community involvement in helping employers find the quality workers they need. 

As the second-most populous and most diverse county in Minnesota, Ramsey County faces many of the same workforce challenges as other communities throughout the country, with local employers having difficulty filling their open positions and yet some residents having difficulty finding employment. But there is a wide array of local resources intended to help.  Residents in Ramsey County can seek assistance and programs to support them in overcoming barriers to employment through the efforts of Ramsey County Workforce Solutions, CareerForce, the statewide public workforce system and the Workforce Innovation Board of Ramsey County (WIB).

Read the full story here. 

The WIB, in partnership with Ramsey County, launched the Inclusive Workplaces Cohort initiative to support businesses in becoming more inclusive workplaces in 2021. The program offered businesses in Ramsey County the opportunity to participate in a year-long peer learning community to learn together while advancing equity and inclusion within their organizations. The cohort sessions were led by the Center for Economic Inclusion in alignment with the county’s Economic Competitiveness and Inclusion Plan which set a comprehensive economic development strategy centered on equitable growth and strengthening economic competitiveness.

Members of the cohort joined the WIB at their August 7 meeting to celebrate the conclusion of the inaugural cohort and recognize the seventeen organizations that embarked on this  journey.   

Even with the tight labor market, two recent job fairs drew large numbers of job seekers. On August 11, a dozen local employers ready to hire filled the Community Room at the Ramsey County Library in Roseville. The event was a great venue for making meaning connections to employment for the nearly 100 job seekers who attended.    

Allianz Field was the place to be on August 17 as the WIB, Workforce Solutions, CareerForce, and the City of Saint Paul hosted an in-person job fair in the Midway Area. Thirty local employers from a wide range of industries were excited to make meaningful connections with job seekers and showcase their organizations. Over 200 job seekers seized the opportunity to explore the wide range of career opportunities, many completing job applications on the spot. There were also resource tables and staff providing interviewing tips and sharing information on a variety of available training and educational resources. 

Ling Becker said, "The power of these face to face interactions is immeasurable. It was great to see so many contacts being made that will surely lead to jobs for our residents and new employees for our local businesses. It's a win-win for everyone and we are excited to be part of making these connections happen."   

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 jobs 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.

Shym Cook

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

What are some of the employment challenges job seekers in our community are facing at this time?

Some of the common challenges our customers have are transportation, digital literacy, and childcare.  There are also a variety of programs offered with career advancement or changes in careers to help with some of these such as the Dislocated Worker Program, the Adult Program, construction training and others.

Where do you see the most opportunities?

The CareerForce staff make a real difference for our customers by helping them enroll in programs, getting signed up for MinnesotaWorks.net – the State’s free online job bank, reviewing resumes, providing information and referrals for services, brainstorming occupation options with transferable skills and so much more.

Read more about Shym and CareerForce Saint Paul here.

Fostering Independence Grants Info Session - September 15, noon-1p.m.

Ramsey County Workforce Solutions is organizing a virtual information session on Thursday, September 15, noon-1 p.m., for all organizations who directly serve or frequently engage with foster populations.

This information session will center on the Minnesota Office of Higher Education’s new Fostering Independence Grant Program, which offers ‘last dollar’ financing for past and present Minnesota fosters to attend college. In addition to eligibility and enrollment information provided by Minnesota Office of Higher Education and Department of Human Services staff, the session will feature testimony from one of the Program’s original sponsors: Foster Advocates CEO, Hoang Murphy. There will also be time at the end of the session for questions.

Click here to register for the info session.

Being an Inclusive Workforce Employer - September 14, 8:30-10 a.m.

Data has proven that the more diverse the organization is, the more innovative and successful they are. Attend this VIRUTAL event to learn what it means to be an inclusive employer—receive tips and resources on how to start, become, or advance your skills as an inclusive employer. 

Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio (CLUES) will share informative employer engagement strategies on the Hispanic culture and provide ways to include this population of potential workers in your workforce. Central Minnesota’s Inclusive Workforce Employer Designation Program will reduce disparities and raise awareness of diversity, inclusion, value, and equity in the workplace by obtaining a designation that recognizes participating employers.

Sandra Feist is an immigration attorney who has been working in the immigration law field since 2001 and founded her law firm, Grell Feist PLC, in 2010. She is an Adjunct Professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law where she teaches Immigration Law each fall. Feist is a member of the Minnesota Legislature where she focuses on, among other areas, immigration policy at the state level. Feist will provide information about the process for sponsoring foreign nationals for work visas and work-based green cards.

Click here to register.

Twin Cities Startup Week - September 16-23, 2022

Build your schedule and join all the fun in Saint Paul! Full Stack Saint Paul is a proud TCSW Community Hub sponsor. Visit the Science Museum of Minnesota or several places around town during this exciting week focused on tech, startups, innovation, and the real people behind the ideas.

Here are a few events you may want to add to your schedule:

• Developing an Equitable Startup Ecosystem Monday, Sept. 19 | Science Museum of Minnesota
• Changemakers Luncheon Tuesday, Sept. 20 | Osborn370
• Diversity and Inclusion Drives Innovation Friday, Sept. 23 | Hybrid Event

Learn more about Twin Cities Startup Week here.

Two Proven Practices for Retaining Black, Indigenous and Latino Employees in a competitive market

By Tim Boudreaux, Director of Racial Equity Consulting, Center for Economic Inclusion

Almost five million people quit their jobs in 2021, and according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the trend is expected to continue. Organizations alike are challenged by the realities of ‘the Great Resignation’ and focused on innovative ways to attract and retain talent in a competitive market. While organizations pilot and implement new strategies to attract and retain Black and Brown talent, a LinkedIn survey on the Black Professional experience found that 29% of Black professionals are either actively looking or thinking about quitting their jobs. The number is even higher for Latino professionals (37%) and women (36%) according to an October survey conducted by Census wide on behalf of LinkedIn.

Oftentimes, Black and Brown employees leave companies because they don’t see growth opportunities for them, a perception often underscored by the inability see anyone in executive ranks who looks like them. In a 2021 APM Research Study, the vast majority of Minnesota's Black, Indigenous, and Hispanic respondents indicated they believe workers from their racial and ethnic group experience discrimination when applying for jobs. More than three-quarters of Minnesota's Hmong population shared the perception and experience of the peers in other communities of color. Meanwhile, 38% of the state's White adults believed their group faced racial discrimination when applying for jobs.

If this data is shocking, consider the opportunity to pause for a moment to assess your workforce data by level, department, and average tenure at your organization. As you analyze the data and come to understand any differences in how employees experience belonging, advancement, and engagement in the organization, you have an opportunity to go deeper. Consider hosting forums to hear about these experiences directly from employees of color. Ask your employees to share ideas for improvements that can be made to build a more rewarding work culture for everyone, and how they see these changes helping to accelerate business results.

Read the full article here.