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 December 2023
Greetings partners!
Yesterday, representatives from the county and city of Saint Paul and several young adults had the opportunity to meet with Senior White House Advisor and former Secretary of Labor Tom Perez. He heard first-hand from the young people about the employment and training barriers they experienced during and since the pandemic and how investments from the Biden-Harris Administration are addressing these challenges with innovative, new paid workforce programs in Ramsey County. It was an honor to share how the city and county's co-investments of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds are making a real impact on the lives of young adults who are low-income or experiencing employment barriers through paid Learn and Earn job training programs.
This is just one example of the great work being done in our community. The Workforce Innovation Board (WIB) has been instrumental in supporting county and community-led events, elevating critical local workforce information and leading initiatives that make our community a better place to live, work and do business.
I am grateful for the accomplishments we have achieved together and look forward to our continued partnerships. Happy Holidays!
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 White House Senior Advisor, Ramsey County and city of Saint Paul staff pose for photo in the Center for Economic Inclusion, downtown Saint Paul, following a roundtable discussion about the impact of new ARPA funded workforce programs for local youth.
Inclusive Employer Toolkit offers 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 Inclusive Employer Toolkit is now available online and can also be downloaded.
View the toolkit.
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 With winter fast approaching, and the holiday season along with it, so too comes seasonal hiring. Much of this hiring will come within the Metro Area's third largest-employing industry sector: Retail Trade. As of the second quarter of 2023, this industry was comprised of nearly 8,200 establishments supplying over 154,400 jobs in the region. And these jobs are dispersed among a variety of areas, from department stores and supercenters, to grocery and liquor stores, to furniture and electronics retailers, to clothing stores, jewelry retailers, sporting goods stores and more.
With such a variety of subsectors, the Retail Trade industry has a wide variety of entry points and career pathways. The occupations with the highest concentrations of employment in this sector include Retail Salespersons; Cashiers; Stockers & Order Fillers; First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers; Customer Service Representatives; Automotive Service Technicians & Mechanics; Pharmacy Technicians; Laborers & Freight, Stock & Material Movers; Food Preparation Workers; Fast Food & Counter Workers; Light Truck or Delivery Services Drivers; and Parts Salespersons.
Continue to the full blog.
In partnership with Ramsey County and Saint Paul College, the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) is currently recruiting for their first Green Construction Training cohort for those interested in careers within insulation and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning). The training will begin on Jan. 22, 2024 and includes 45 hours of paid, hands-on exploratory experience.
Following the paid 45-hour training, there will be a paid two-week intensive hands-on training to allow for a deeper dive into HVAC and insulation. Participants will have the opportunity to enter directly into employment or continue on for a paid four to six month long internship with a local HVAC or insulation company to learn more about energy efficiency on the job.
The application is currently open. Registrations accepted until Jan. 8.
For additional information contact Sahra Mohamed
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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 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.
Visit the Job Connect webpage to learn more!
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 This year, 12 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 the Nexus Kindred Family Healing.
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Susan Jambor
AVP of Human Resources, SPIRE Credit Union
WIB Member since 2020
Share about your work.
As a Human Resources professional through the years and through my volunteer work, I have been able to observe the opportunities and barriers to connecting people to gainful employment. I am motivated to review the county’s current work and provide input on how we can continue to make progress towards gainful employment for all.
Where do you see the most opportunities for individuals interested in pursuing a career in banking and finance?
The finance and banking industry offers many opportunities for career growth. SPIRE has many examples of career progression, fulfilling work by helping others improve their financial well-being, and truly excellent benefits. We were also selected as one of Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal's 2021 Best Places to Work.
Read more about Susan and SPIRE.
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Employer of the Day
Tuesdays, 3–5 p.m., at the Roseville Library
Thursdays, 11 a.m.–1 p.m., at the Maplewood Service Center
Looking for a new job? Every Tuesday and Thursday, employers will visit the Ramsey County Library in Roseville and Maplewood Service Center and 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
Tuesdays, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., at the Roseville 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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Future of Work: Clean Economy Pathways
Dec. 4, 9:30-11 a.m.
2300 Como Avenue, Saint Paul 55108
Please join us for an exciting event exploring the future of work in the clean economy! Discover the latest trends, innovations, and opportunities in this rapidly growing sector. Whether you're a workforce professional, teacher, or simply curious about the clean economy, this event is for you.
At the Future of Work: Clean Economy Pathways event, you'll have the chance to connect with like-minded individuals, network with industry experts, and gain valuable insights. Explore how clean technologies, renewable energy, and sustainable practices are reshaping the job market and creating new career opportunities.
Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to be part of the clean economy revolution!
Register now and secure your spot at the forefront of the future of work.
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Successful Employer Training
Every third Friday, 11 a.m.-noon
Ramsey County is partnering with World Youth Connect, a local youth-led organization, to help bridge generational and cultural gaps between Ramsey County employers and the region’s young workforce. As Minnesota’s most diverse county, Ramsey County is excited to support employers to be more inclusive youth and young adult friendly workplaces. This opportunity is complimentary for any Ramey County employer.
The Successful Employer Training (S.E.T.) is an opportunity for both new and existing youth supervisors and employers to learn essential youth and young adult onboarding, retention, and communication skills and strategies to ensure a positive work environment for all. Ensure your supervisors are well-prepared to adapt and succeed alongside the next generation of workers!
To register.
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Top Trends to Watch in Ramsey County’s Workforce Landscape
Jan. 17, noon-1 p.m.
Recent years have brought seismic shifts in the world of work, driven forward by ongoing economic uncertainties, dramatic talent shortages, workforce misalignments, and rapidly evolving technology. These dynamics make forecasting future labor market needs and supply uniquely challenging. But despite the turbulence, several pivotal shifts have begun to materialize, illuminating the path ahead in inclusive workplaces, skills-based hiring, and the digital workplace.
Join us for a virtual presentation by RealTime Talent’s Senior Director of Strategic Research, Erin Olson, about the top ten workforce trends to watch in Ramsey County in 2024 and beyond.
To register.
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 Inclusive Hiring Connections Summit
Jan. 24, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
121 7th Place E, Saint Paul
This event aims to 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 diversity and inclusiveness in your organization. Choose from a variety of breakout sessions, led by workforce experts, on topics such as skills-based hiring, youth internships, accommodating employees with disabilities and more. You can also visit tables at the Training Resources Fair to connect with community training programs that develop skilled workers for multiple industries.
Come network with fellow hiring professionals, learn from experts, and get inspired by artists from Art from the Inside and learn about hiring justice-impacted individuals.
Complimentary lunch and parking voucher are included. This event is free and open to local businesses seeking solutions for meeting workforce needs.
To register.
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  Breaking Down Barriers for Justice Impacted Individuals is a Workforce Solution
A legal mistake or misstep on the path of life shouldn’t mean an individual cannot find redemption, contribute to society and build an economically sustainable foundation. That’s why Ramsey County Workforce Solutions (WFS), with guidance from a community advisory team, seeks to help justice-impacted individuals get back on their feet, not only to alleviate the barriers they face once released from the criminal justice system but also to assist employers in meeting their hiring needs.
In 2023, WFS published a series of articles addressing the obstacles justice-impacted individuals encounter and the work necessary to integrate them into the workforce. This month's article provides a recap of the entire series.
Continue to the full article.
This feature is part of a series of Fair Opportunities articles meant to raise awareness of the employment needs of justice-impacted individuals and the benefits to employers willing to give these returning citizens a chance at meaningful employment. Please visit the Fair Opportunities Hiring page on the Ramsey County Means Business website to find more resources and events being supported by the WIB.
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