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 December 2025
As we close out 2025, I’m grateful for the dedication, partnership and resilience that define our workforce community. This year brought significant change, from shifting labor market conditions to new challenges facing residents and employers, but it also underscored the power of collaboration across the county.
In this month’s newsletter, we share important insights into job seeker trends, resources to support families and businesses, upcoming opportunities to connect and tools that help employers build stronger and more inclusive workplaces. We’re also thrilled to welcome a new WIB member and to continue celebrating partners who strengthen our workforce ecosystem.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to expanding opportunities in Ramsey County. On behalf of the Workforce Innovation Board of Ramsey County (WIB), I look forward to continuing this important work together in the year ahead.
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The numbers of job seekers who attend job fairs can provide an insight into the current job search experience of people looking for work. Job fair attendance changes over time can give a glimpse of larger labor market trends. The Labor Market Information Office at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development reports that the number of job vacancies declined by 13.4% from 2023 to 2024 and real time postings from MinnesotaWorks.net have shown a continued slow down in 2025. In July 2025, the ratio of unemployed jobseekers per vacancy climbed to 0.7-to-1, which means there were still more open jobs than available workers, but the gap between the two was narrowing steadily. In 2021 and 2022, there were more than 2 jobs available for every unemployed worker. In addition, a recent survey of more than 300 job counselors in the CareerForce system revealed that most of them say job seekers are having a harder time finding work now compared to a year ago, especially in certain fields.
Continue reading.
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While the federal shutdown has ended and benefits have resumed, many families in our community are still struggling to recover and keep up with rising living costs. Food insecurity doesn’t disappear overnight—and your support can make a real difference.
Join WIB in helping restock local food shelves by donating non-perishable food items to benefit Keystone Community Services, Open Cupboard, and the White Bear Area Food Shelf.
Drop-off Locations: Ramsey County Library branches in:
- Maplewood – 3025 Southlawn Drive
- Roseville – 2180 North Hamline Ave.
- Shoreview – 4560 Victoria St N
Most Needed Items Include: Cereal, rice, masa, bannock mix, gluten-free items, canned fruits, vegetables, meats, shelf-stable tofu, peanut butter, cooking staples, spices, sauces, pop-top soups and microwaveable meals.
Learn more.
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Inclusive Employer Toolkit: Creating a welcoming start
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 Onboarding section of the toolkit provides resources to help employers create a welcoming and supportive experience for new employees, setting the foundation for long-term success. It offers guidance on developing structured onboarding programs that foster connection, clarity, and confidence from day one. Key strategies include assigning mentors, providing clear communication about workplace expectations and resources, and ensuring all employees feel valued and included in workplace culture. By prioritizing an inclusive onboarding process, employers can enhance employee engagement, reduce turnover, and build a stronger, more connected workforce.
Link to the full toolkit.
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 The Employer Reasonable Accommodation Fund (ERAF), administered by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), will continue supporting Minnesota employers in 2026. ERAF provides small and mid-sized businesses with up to $30,000 per year to reimburse the cost of reasonable accommodations that help job seekers and employees with disabilities succeed at work.
ERAF remains an important resource in promoting accessible, inclusive employment across Minnesota. Learn more about ERAF.
 On Tuesday, Nov. 12, the record 43-day federal government shutdown ended. While opinions, blogs, articles and other testimonials could pour over the politics surrounding the shutdown, there is no doubt that the shutdown had a profound impact on millions of Americans. This impact was experienced in countless ways, including financial stress for federal workers, delayed and canceled flights, the limitation and cessation of SNAP benefits, increased burden on local food banks, the closing of federal monuments and parks, and the delay or closing of other federal projects and services.
Of course, one of the main consequences of the federal government shutdown was the impact on federal government workers themselves. While many essential services were kept in place, the stress on Minnesota's and the Twin Cities Metro Area's federal government workforce increased throughout those 43 days. Let's take a closer look at the extent of federal government employment in Minnesota and the Metro Area.
Continue reading.
The Ramsey County Workforce Partner Directory is an online tool that highlights the wide range of organizations working together to support Ramsey County’s workforce. The directory makes it easy to find partners by service area, program type, or population served, helping residents, employers, and community organizations quickly connect to the right resources. Whether you are looking for training providers, employment services, or community-based support, the directory is a one-stop resource to navigate Ramsey County’s workforce network.
Thank you to all of our partners for the critical role you play in building opportunity and supporting our community.
Visit the Workforce Partner Directory webpage to learn more!
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The WIB is currently seeking a new member to represent Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) on the board. As a WIB member, you’ll help shape workforce strategies that connect residents to meaningful career opportunities and ensure local businesses have access to the talent they need to thrive.
Interested in making an impact? Learn more about WIB membership or reach out to Becky Milbrandt with questions about the application process and eligibility requirements.
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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 spotlight one of the participating organizations that’s leaning into this important work. This month's spotlight is Mississippi Market Co-op. Follow along on social media and in future WIB newsletters to see how these employers are leading by example.
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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. This month, the board welcomes Sharon Blomgren and Jenni Severson.
Sharon works in Workforce Training and Continuing Education at Saint Paul College. She brings over 20 years of workforce development experience to the WIB, with a strong focus on healthcare, education and working with non-profit training partnerships. Sharon is passionate about connecting students to careers and employers to talent, while also serving on several statewide boards supporting workforce and education initiatives.
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Jenni is the Segment HR Leader at APi Group, bringing deep expertise in talent strategy, organizational development, and community engagement. A passionate people-first executive, she’s excited to expand her impact in Ramsey County through her service on the WIB.
Welcome, Sharon and Jenni!
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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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 2025 Year in Review: Highlights
Dec. 3, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Join the DEED Workforce Strategy Consultant team for 'The Best of the Best in Review' as we travel back through 2025 and discuss highlights of each session from 2025 and share resources that are critical to help our employers grow and succeed.
Webinar Facilitator: Shayla Drake - Northeast Workforce Strategy Consultant, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)
Panelists:
- Adesewa Adesiji - Metro Workforce Strategy Consultant, DEED
- Della Ludwig - Central & Southwest Workforce Strategy Consultant, DEED
- James Whirlwind Soldier- Northwest Workforce Strategy Consultant, DEED
- Rebecca Zoubek - South Central & Southeast Workforce Strategy Consultant, DEED
To register.
 MN Skills-Based Hiring Accelerator Workshops
Dec. 16, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. CareerForce in Minneapolis North - Second Floor
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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Hybrid and remote work continue to reshape Ramsey County’s economy. Although the pandemic accelerated the shift, the trend has remained strong. With approximately one-third of Saint Paul’s and Ramsey County’s job postings listed as hybrid or fully remote in the first ten months of 2025, the region’s workforce is increasingly expected to work and collaborate online.
Yet, not all residents possess the digital knowledge or skills necessary to capitalize on these growing opportunities.
“Confidence is a significant barrier for many; they often just need an extra push to overcome the fear of ‘I can’t do this,’” said Shabazz-Adasi Milton, an American Connection Corps AmeriCorps Member with Neighborhood House. “But once you really understand their stories, you see how much potential there is. Sometimes a single laptop is the key that helps those passions take shape.”
Continue reading the 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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