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 October 2025
October is a significant month for workforce development in Ramsey County. From Manufacturing Month and Disability Employment Awareness Month to the launch of the Young Adult Employment Program dashboard and the continued use of the Inclusive Employer Toolkit, this issue highlights the many ways our partners and community are innovating to expand access, build skills, and create meaningful career pathways.
On behalf of the Workforce Innovation Board of Ramsey County (WIB), thank you for being part of this work and for helping us shape a workforce system that is responsive, inclusive, and future-focused.
- Catrice O'Neal, WIB Executive Director
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Manufacturing Month is a time to celebrate the strength, diversity and innovation of Minnesota’s manufacturing sector, and Ramsey County is leading the way. With average annual wages topping $80,000 statewide and reaching $97,000 in Ramsey County, manufacturing offers high-paying, high-skill careers that are more than 10% above the state’s overall private sector average.
Throughout October, explore industry insights, workforce trends, and available resources by visiting the Manufacturing Month page on Ramsey County’s website. You’ll also find our Made in Ramsey County feature series, spotlighting local businesses Elpis, Innovize, The Buttered Tin, Minnesota Ice and Vistabule, each blending creativity, craftsmanship, and cutting-edge solutions to make Ramsey County a true hub of manufacturing excellence.
Follow Ramsey County on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram all month to see what’s being made right here in our community.
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 October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a time to recognize the vital contributions of workers with disabilities and promote inclusive workplace practices. This year’s theme, “Access to Jobs for All”, highlights the importance of removing barriers and expanding opportunities across every industry.
Learn more about National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
Elpis Enterprises is more than a manufacturer, it’s a youth workforce development program empowering 16–24 year olds facing barriers like homelessness or justice system involvement. Through hands-on training in woodworking, screen printing, textiles and media arts, Elpis helps young people build skills and confidence. Their signature birdfeeders have been assembled with nearly 10,000 fourth graders across the Twin Cities, and their screen printing shop serves hundreds of local businesses. Located in Ramsey County, Elpis thrives through strong community partnerships and a mission to create opportunity through creativity.
Learn more about Elpis Enterprises.
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Ramsey County’s Open Data Portal is a way to make workforce and employment data transparent, engaging and useful for everyone.
Recently, a new story, Young Adult Employment Program, was added to the portal. It provides insights into how opportunities for young people are being delivered, who is participating, and where results are occurring. The story features dashboards and charts that show performance over time - such as enrollment trends, participant demographics, and employment outcomes - letting the public explore how programs are working in real time. It’s a great resource for those who want to understand what’s working, where support may be needed, or how partner organizations might align with ongoing efforts.
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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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 Manufacturing is vital to the Seven-County Twin Cities Metro Area's labor market and economy. With nearly 173,000 jobs at about 4,000 establishments, it is the second largest-employing industry sector in the region. In fact, one in ten Metro Area jobs are in Manufacturing. With a total payroll of $16.2 billion in 2024, it was the second highest of all industries. With how large Manufacturing is, it's worth a closer look to see how diverse the industry is. How does Manufacturing employment breakdown by its specific industry subsectors? How concentrated are these industries in different parts of the Metro? What types of occupations are employed in these industries, and what pathways are available for career-seekers in these occupations? Let's take that closer look.
Continue to the full article.
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, by industry, 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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  We’re thrilled to sponsor the 2025 Inclusive Workplaces Cohort, a 9-month peer learning journey designed to help Ramsey County employers build more inclusive and supportive workplaces. Each month, we’ll spotlight one of the participating organizations that’s leaning into this important work. This month's spotlights are Saint Paul College and Merrick, Inc. Follow along on social media and in future WIB newsletters to see how these employers are leading by example.
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Ethel Garcia
Vice President of Human Resources, Innovize
Member since 2024
Where do you see the most opportunities for people interested in a career in manufacturing?
The opportunities are wide-ranging, from roles in automation and advanced technologies to specialties like medical device production. For individuals who are curious, love solving problems, and want to learn and grow, medical device manufacturing offers a chance to build a fulfilling career with purpose. One of the most rewarding aspects of this field is knowing that the work you do can directly improve people’s health and quality of life. It’s not just about making products – it’s about making a difference.
Learn more about Ethel and Innovize.
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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:
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:
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 Enhance Employee Skills with Incumbent Worker, On-the-Job Training, and Other Grant Funded Training Opportunities
Oct. 1, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Employee training is important because it represents a great opportunity to improve their skills and knowledge, but it can also be costly to the employer.
Join DEED's Workforce Strategy Consultant team on Oct. 1 to learn about grant funded opportunities like Incumbent Worker Training and On-the-Job Training and other opportunities available to employers that can prepare employees for higher responsibilities and show employees they are valued without hurting the employers' pocket book.
Featured panelists include:
- Angie Dahle - Business Services Manager at Career Solutions
- Tim Zipoy - Business Services Coordinator, Central MN Jobs and Training Services
- Della Ludwig - Central and Southwest Workforce Strategy Consultant, DEED
To register.
Twin Cities Startup Week - Saint Paul Day
Oct. 9, at various locations in downtown Saint Paul
Twin Cities Startup Week (TCSW) is Minnesota’s biggest event for startups, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, and community partners. It’s a chance for new businesses to find support, funding, and connections to help them grow.
Thursday, Oct. 9 is Saint Paul day during TCSW. It will include several big events, including:
Learn more about Saint Paul Day and all the events happening during Twin Cities Startup Week.
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 Tap into Talent Career Fair
Oct. 15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Arlington Hills Community Center, 1200 Payne Ave, Saint Paul
All are welcome at the Tap into Talent Career Fair, hosted by the East Side Employment xChange partners. Meet recruiters and employer representatives looking to fill a variety of positions. Bring your resume and your best first impression to land your next opportunity!
Learn more.
MN Skills-Based Hiring Accelerator Workshops
Oct. 28, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Blaine Human Services Center
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 mnskillsbased to register and learn more.
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Automation has gravitated beyond buzzwords to literal, powerful forces actively reshaping entire industries nationwide. In Ramsey County, this shift is especially visible in manufacturing, where automation is redefining job roles, increasing productivity, and opening up new avenues for career growth. The next five to ten years are critical as labor shortages, productivity increases and global competition are expected to persist.
“This is the future of manufacturing,” said Myrika Schneider, Director of Workforce Development with the Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association (MPMA). “Wouldn’t you rather be on the leading edge than playing catch-up?”
Schneider states it is important to understand the difference between automation and artificial intelligence (AI), which are often lumped together but are distinct technologies.
- Automation involves machines or systems programmed to perform repetitive tasks, such as robotic arms assembling parts or conveyors moving materials.
- AI refers to systems that learn from data, recognize patterns, and make decisions, like predictive maintenance software or customer service chatbots.
Continue to the full article.
As Ramsey County’s workforce evolves, understanding key trends is crucial for fostering a thriving and resilient economy. Throughout 2025, these articles will explore the critical workforce trends shaping our communities. The trends were presented by Erin Olson, Senior Director of Strategic Research at RealTime Talent at the Top Trends to Watch in 2025 in Ramsey County’s Workforce Landscape webinar in February.
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