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 January 2026
As we begin a new year, I’m reflecting on the momentum across Ramsey County to support youth, strengthen workplaces and connect people to meaningful career opportunities. From recognizing youth workforce champions to celebrating employers building strong workplace cultures, this month’s newsletter highlights the many ways our partners are shaping the workforce of today and tomorrow.
The Workforce Innovation Board of Ramsey County (WIB) and its partners continue to advance programs, tools and events that support employers, job seekers and young people at every stage of their career journey. On behalf of the WIB, thank you for your continued collaboration and leadership. Your partnership is essential to building a strong and responsive workforce for our community.
- Yolanda Y. McIntosh, WIB Chair
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Do you know someone who has gone above and beyond to support and empower Ramsey County’s youth and young adults through personal, academic, or career development? We invite you to nominate them for the Youth Workforce Champion Awards.
Each year, the Workforce Innovation Board’s Youth Committee recognizes two outstanding champions:
- Legacy Award – Honoring a dedicated professional whose long-standing leadership and contributions have made a lasting impact on youth and young adults.
- Rising Star Award – Celebrating an emerging leader whose passion, promise, and early contributions are inspiring change.
Eligible nominees may include (but are not limited to) educators, youth-serving professionals, community-based organization staff, juvenile justice partners, volunteers, elected officials, or youth themselves. The Youth Committee particularly considers achievements that demonstrate excellence and innovation in services to youth, positive impact on quality of life, community engagement, youth empowerment, leadership, and preparation for work.
Nominations are open now through February 20, 2026.
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Looking for fresh ideas and energy to move your business forward? Consider hosting an intern through the city of Saint Paul’s Right Track program and help cultivate the workforce of tomorrow. Since 2014, Right Track has connected talented, diverse youth with hundreds of local businesses through paid internships and professional development opportunities. Why participate?
- Access motivated young talent with unique perspectives.
- Build your future workforce while making a positive impact in the community.
- Right Track covers wages and provides training support.
Internships typically run 10 weeks, 32 hours/week through two programs:
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Youth Jobs Two(YJ2): Career-focused internships for ages 16–21
(Deadline: Feb. 28).
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Scholars: Ages 18–24, June–Aug. (Deadline: Jan. 8 – limited spots!)
Be part of this transformative program and help shape our next generation of leaders.
Learn more and apply to host a Right Track intern.
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On Dec. 4, 2025, members of the WIB and its committees joined business leaders from the fourth Inclusive Workplaces Cohort to celebrate the program’s completion. The event honored organizations dedicated to creating inclusive workplaces, a priority that strengthens Ramsey County and the broader community.
This year’s cohort brought together the ten organizations that participated in the cohort, representing a wide range of industries and employing thousands of individuals across the metro area:
Throughout the year-long program, the cohort participants engaged in deep learning, shared best practices and developed capstone projects focused on creating more inclusive organizational cultures. During the recognition lunch, attendees heard reflections from Commissioner Kelly Miller, WIB leaders and cohort members about the impact of these efforts on workplaces and communities.
The cohort was facilitated by ADR Consulting Group, continuing their role as learning partner for the past two cohorts. Their guidance fostered an environment of collaboration, accountability and meaningful dialogue. This program underscores the WIB’s commitment to promoting inclusive economic opportunities in Ramsey County.
Congratulations to all 2025 cohort participants for their leadership and dedication to building workplaces where everyone belongs.
Applications for the 2026 cohort will open later this month. Visit the Inclusive Workplaces Cohort page on the Ramsey County Means Business website in the coming weeks for details on how to apply and join this important initiative.
Inclusive Employer Toolkit: Supporting employees for long-term success
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 Systems of Support section of the toolkit highlights the importance of building internal structures that promote inclusion and ensure all employees have the resources they need to succeed. This includes practices such as creating employee resource groups, offering mental health and wellness support, and establishing clear channels for feedback and accountability. By embedding support systems into the workplace culture, employers can foster a more inclusive, responsive, and resilient organization where every employee feels seen, heard, and supported.
Link to the full toolkit.
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Ramsey County Workforce Solutions is proud to share the impact of its Outreach to Schools (OTS) efforts. OTS strengthens connections between school districts, career pathways and youth employment opportunities—while also linking students to CareerForce and other community partners.
This year, OTS provided career-connected resources to more than 2,300 students through classroom visits, career fairs, family engagement events and large-scale experiences such as Career Connect Day. The team also worked with partners to ensure graduating seniors had access to post-graduation resources and amplified pathways into the skilled trades.
Thank you to our education and community partners for helping engage young people in meaningful career exploration throughout the county.
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 With December comes holiday hiring across the Retail Trade industry sector. Let's take a closer look at a major component of this industry in the Metro Area: General Merchandise Retailers.
In the Twin Cities Metro Area, there were 8,160 establishments in Retail Trade supplying just over 152,000 covered jobs. As such, Retail Trade is the region's third largest-employing industry sector, accounting for nearly one-in-ten jobs. Broken down by specific sectors, General Merchandise Retailers accounts for nearly one-quarter of the region's total Retail Trade employment, with just over 35,100 jobs. This sector can be further broken down, including the following in-depth sectors:
- Warehouse Clubs, Supercenters, & Other General Merchandise Retailers: 22,255 jobs in the region.
- This sector of Retail Trade added 951 jobs between Q2 2023 and Q2 2025, growing by 4.5%.
- Department Stores: 12,847 jobs in the region.
- This sector of Retail Trade lost 632 jobs between Q2 2023 and Q2 2025, declining by 4.7%.
With the slight shift of employment away from Department Stores and towards Warehouse Clubs & Supercenters, the Metro Area's total employment in General Merchandise Retailers still increased by 0.9% between the second quarters of 2023 and 2025. This was equivalent to approximately 318 net new jobs.
Continue reading the article by Tim O'Neill, DEED Regional Analyst.
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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Commissioner Kelly Miller
Ramsey County Board of Commissioners, District 7
WIB Member since 2025
As I reflect on my first year as a commissioner, I’m grateful for the trust our community has placed in me and for the opportunity to serve. This year has been about listening—showing up in neighborhoods, learning from residents, and working alongside colleagues and community partners to better understand both the challenges people face and the strengths we can build on together. I’m proud of the groundwork we’ve laid to center equity, strengthen essential services and ensure county government remains accessible and responsive to real lived experiences.
Looking ahead to 2026, my focus is on turning that foundation into lasting progress. I remain committed to advocating for policies that support families, strengthen community well-being, and create pathways to stability and opportunity for all residents. I look forward to deepening partnerships, advancing thoughtful and inclusive solutions, and continuing to represent Maplewood, North St. Paul, White Bear Lake and all of Ramsey County with care, integrity, and purpose.
Learn more about Commissioner Kelly 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:
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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 From Doer to Leader: Practical Support Strategies for Frontline Supervisors
Jan. 7, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Promoting great “doers” into supervisor roles is easy—setting them up to succeed is harder. This session explores how employers can better support frontline leaders with practical strategies, real-world insights, and accessible tools that help supervisors thrive in dynamic work environments.
Join us to learn how organizations are helping frontline supervisors build confidence, communicate effectively, and lead teams in dynamic, fast-paced environments. Whether you're developing new leaders or strengthening existing ones, this session offers actionable ideas to support supervisor success and improve team performance.
Webinar Facilitator: Rebecca Zoubek, South Central and Southeast Workforce Strategy Consultant, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
To register.
One Dream One Minnesota Career Fair
Jan. 17, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Saint Paul College, 235 Marshall Avenue, Saint. Paul
The One Dream One Minnesota Career Fair is part of the State of Minnesota’s 40th anniversary Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday celebration, a week-long series of events coordinated by the Governor's Council on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. Come to the One Dream, One Minnesota Career Fair to:
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Explore career paths with the State of Minnesota.
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Get one-on-one resume support.
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Connect with representatives from across state government.
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 MN Skills-Based Hiring Accelerator Workshops
Jan. 20, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Scott County Government Center in Shakopee
Feb. 24, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Xcel Energy High Bridge Plant, 155 Randolph Ave, 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 mnskillsbased to register and learn more.
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By Jeff Horwich, Senior Economics Writer for the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
Aside from a one-month pandemic plunge in April 2020, the U.S. hiring rate is scraping its lowest depths since 2013. Yet in the third quarter of 2025, more than 6 million Americans resumed looking for a job (technically, moved from “not in the labor force” status into unemployment). That’s a 9 percent increase from the prior quarter.
As the labor market stagnates, something notable is happening: More Americans are getting back in the game.
In recent months, the flow of people out of unemployment and into jobs has not kept pace, contributing to the rising unemployment rate.
This stream of fresh labor supply into today’s “low-hire, low-fire” job market looks likely to increase. For every person who actually restarts their job hunt each month, roughly three more Americans say they want to do so (Figure 2). And this Labor Department tally of people who are not yet actively searching but “want a job now” has been rising.
Continue reading the article.
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