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 February 2025
As we move into February, I am excited to invite you to explore the many initiatives, resources and events available in this month's Workforce Innovation Board (WIB) newsletter. Whether you’re interested in developing your workforce, connecting with emerging talent, supporting opportunities for young people or building a more inclusive workplace, there is something in the newsletter for you.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to building a strong workforce and vibrant economy for all in Ramsey County and for your dedication to engaging in the important work we do together.
Elisa Rasmussen, WIB Chair
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Applications are now being accepted for the fourth Inclusive Workplaces Cohort. This is an opportunity for Ramsey County businesses to participate in an executive leadership learning cohort to take the next step in becoming more inclusive workplaces.
An information session for all interested businesses is taking place today, Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 1 p.m. Register here for the information session.
Visit the Inclusive Workplaces Cohort webpage to get additional details about the program and to apply.
There is no cost to participating businesses. Applications are due Friday, Feb. 21, 2025.
 The CareerForce location at 540 Fairview Avenue N. has closed. The new location will open in early March. More exciting details are coming soon on the new location!
You can still get help with your job search during the move!
For assistance while the physical location is closed, please call 651-539-4100 or email CareerForce.SaintPaul@state.mn.us.
You can also access services at these community career labs:
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Saint Paul – Downtown, 121 7th Place E, Suite 2500. (Career Services available: Mondays & Wednesdays 10 a.m.-4 p.m.).
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Maplewood – Service Center, 2001 White Bear Avenue N, Suite 1034 (Career Services available: Tuesdays & Thursdays 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.).
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Roseville – Ramsey County Library, 2180 Hamline Avenue N. (Career Services available: Tuesdays & Thursdays 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)
Visit the CareerForce in Saint Paul webpage for more information.
Do you know someone who has made a remarkable impact in supporting and empowering Ramsey County’s youth and young adults on their personal, educational, or career journeys? Nominate them for the 2025 Youth Workforce Champions Award!
Each year, this award celebrates two extraordinary individuals:
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The Legacy Award recognizes a dedicated professional whose long-standing leadership and contributions to youth and young adult development have left a lasting impact.
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The Rising Star Award honors an emerging leader whose passion and promise are inspiring change and making a difference early in their journey.
This is your chance to spotlight those who educate, guide, and support the next generation. Help us honor the champions shaping brighter futures for our young people!
Nominations will be accepted until 4 p.m. on Feb. 19. The award ceremony honoring the two award recipients will take place during the WIB meeting on Thursday, Apr. 3.
Submit your nomination today!
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Ramsey County Workforce Solutions and Right Track are excited to announce internship experiences for suburban Ramsey County youth ages 14-21! Right Track is the city of Saint Paul’s youth employment and training program providing youth with meaningful paid internship experiences.
We are currently seeking to engage new employer partners in Saint Paul and suburban Ramsey County to host internships for the summer 2025 internship program.
Join a call on Feb. 5, noon - 1 p.m.. to learn more about Right Track, hear from employer partners and learn about next steps!
Join the meeting.
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Inclusive Employer Toolkit: Strategies for improving employee recruitment
Workforce Solutions and the WIB are leading efforts to support employers to create a sense of welcoming for all employees within their organizations. One of these efforts is to provide an Inclusive Employer Toolkit. The toolkit aims to help employers provide a more welcoming environment for all by offering practices to build inclusion in the areas of employee recruitment, hiring, onboarding and retention.
The Recruitment section of the Toolkit outlines how to craft and share job postings that use inclusive, plain, and gender-neutral language, while providing clear wage information and innovative benefits to attract a broad range of candidates. It also emphasizes expanding recruitment channels and collecting demographic data to refine hiring practices, ensuring that job requirements and screening processes are truly accessible to all individuals.
View the toolkit.
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The St. Paul Area Chamber, Minneapolis Regional Chamber and Ramsey County are excited to launch Twin Cities Talent Hub. Twin Cities Talent Hub brings together employers, schools, and community organizations to help people get the education and skills they need for good jobs. The website shares programs, resources, and partnerships that connect workers with opportunities, while helping businesses find the talent they need. It focuses on creating fair chances for everyone and supporting the region’s economy through teamwork and events.
Visit Twin Cities Talent Hub to learn more.
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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 youth friendly jobs and 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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The WIB is excited to welcome new member, Ramsey County Commissioner Kelly Miller. Commissioner Miller represents District 7 and is the first Native American elected to the county board.
Commissioner Miller's lived experiences and professional leadership have shaped her commitment to strengthening community services, advancing environmental sustainability and promoting economic prosperity for all residents. In her role on the county board and as a member of the WIB, she looks forward to working collaboratively with residents, businesses and local organizations to ensure that Ramsey County remains a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable community for all.
Members of the WIB are key decision makers within their organizations and experts in the workforce arena appointed by either the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners or the city of Saint Paul mayor.
Learn more about Commissioner Miller.
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Employer of the Day
Tuesdays, 3–5 p.m., at the Roseville 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 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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 Employee Resource Groups in Today's Workplace
Feb. 5, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are essential to fostering inclusion in the workplace. They empower individuals by creating a sense of belonging and community. For employers, ERGs provide a wealth of benefits, from enhancing company reputation and community engagement to nurturing future leaders.
Join DEED for their February webinar where they will discuss the importance of ERGs in today's workplace. Participate in this important discussion and contribute to the conversation on inclusion in the workplace.
Presenters:
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Sean McMoore - Diversity Recruitment and Retention Supervisor, Department of Human Services
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Deondra X Avery - Director of Agency-wide Employee Engagement, Department of Human Services
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Dwight Tole - Senior Engineering Specialist, Seagate Technology
Register today.
 Top Workforce Trends in Ramsey County in 2025
Feb. 19, noon.-1 p.m. via Zoom
Join us as RealTime Talent’s Senior Director of Strategic Research, Erin Olson, speaks about the top ten workforce trends to watch in Ramsey County for 2025 and beyond.
Recent years have brought seismic shifts in the world of work, driven forward by ongoing economic and political 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.
Register today.
 MN Skills-Based Hiring Accelerator Workshops
Mar. 7, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Securian Financial, 400 N. Robert St, Saint Paul
The Twin Cities Metro Workforce Development Boards are establishing a new partnership with Goodwill Easter-Seals, the Saint Paul Area Chamber, the Minneapolis Regional Chamber and Twin Cities SHRM 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 optional one-on-one coaching from facilitators.
Visit www.mnskillsbased.com to sign up & learn more!
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Minnesota experienced significant shifts in immigration patterns this decade. Following a sharp decline in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, international migration rebounded strongly in subsequent years. Recent U.S. Census Bureau data reveals a notable surge in international migration to Minnesota, with nearly 30,000 new arrivals recorded between July 2023 and July 2024—two and a half times the average annual levels of the previous decade. From 2020 to 2024, over 81,000 new Americans moved to Minnesota, making immigration the primary driver of population change and contributing to 94% of the state’s net growth during this period.
Continue to the full article published by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.
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