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 November 2026
November is a season of gratitude, offering an opportunity to reflect on the people, partnerships and shared commitment that strengthen our community. On behalf of the Workforce Innovation Board of Ramsey County (WIB), I am grateful for the employers, educators, service providers and workforce professionals who work each day to create pathways to opportunity for Ramsey County residents.
This month, we recognize both Caring Careers Month and Men's Mental Health Month, highlighting the importance of supporting the well-being of our workforce while celebrating the essential professionals who care for others every day. November is also Native American Heritage Month, a time to honor the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Native American communities in Ramsey County and across Minnesota.
In this issue, you'll find updates on youth employment initiatives, skills-based hiring efforts, workforce training opportunities and resources to help employers create more inclusive workplaces. Thank you for your continued partnership in building a stronger, healthier and more resilient workforce for Ramsey County.
Yolanda Y. McIntosh, WIB Chair
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November is Celebrate Caring Careers Month in Ramsey County and across Minnesota, recognizing the dedicated professionals who support older adults, people with disabilities and individuals with behavioral health needs across our community. These essential workers make a difference every day through services provided in homes, communities and care facilities.
The month also shines a spotlight on the many career opportunities available in aging services, disability services and behavioral health. With strong current demand and projected growth in the coming years, caring careers offer meaningful work and pathways for individuals who want to make a positive impact in their communities.
Learn more at CareerForce Minnesota's Caring Careers page.
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November is Men's Mental Health Month. Men are often less likely to seek mental health support or talk openly about emotional challenges, which can lead to stress, anxiety, depression and burnout going unaddressed.
As employees navigate increasing workplace and personal demands, creating a culture where mental health conversations are welcomed and normalized is more important than ever. Local support is available:
Creating a culture where mental health conversations are welcomed can help employees, teams, and organizations thrive.
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On October 13, high school sophomores from across Ramsey County filled the Saint Paul RiverCentre with excitement and curiosity for the fifth annual Career Connect Day. Organized by the St. Paul Area Chamber, this event provides young people experiences and information to help envision their paths beyond high school. Students had the opportunity to learn about six different career sectors:
- Business, Management & Administration
- Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
- Arts, Communications & Information Systems
- Engineering, Manufacturing & Technology
- Health Science Technology
- Human Services
Ramsey County was on hand to provide career exploration information to students, as well as post-graduation resources for educators and administrators.
Thank you to the St. Paul Area Chamber for organizing this event, as well as the WIB for making it possible for students to attend by providing transportation.
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Workforce Solutions has released a Request for Proposal for Minnesota Youth Program (MYP) and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Young Adult program services. The county is seeking proposals from qualified youth employment providers who will help eligible youth and young adults access employment opportunities, education and training and the support services they need to thrive.
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The WIB is proud to recognize Yolanda McIntosh, WIB Chair, for an inspiring accomplishment that reflects the resilience and determination she brings to both her personal and professional life.
After successfully overcoming a breast cancer diagnosis, Yolanda embraced a new challenge by joining Dragon Divas MN, a dragon boat racing team made up entirely of breast cancer survivors. This year, she competed with the team at the International Dragon Boat Festival in Aix-les-Bains, France, alongside more than 4,500 participants representing 150 teams from 25 countries. The Dragon Divas delivered an outstanding performance, winning their 200-meter heat and placing fourth overall.
Yolanda's journey is a powerful reminder that perseverance can transform adversity into opportunity. We congratulate her on this remarkable achievement and thank her for continuing to inspire our workforce community through her leadership, courage and commitment to excellence.
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According to recent surveys, some Minnesota employers still face challenges finding workers with the necessary skills to fill open positions, despite the loosening labor market.
At the same time, many Minnesotans struggle to find family-sustaining employment, often because they lack the credentials to get hired into in-demand, career-path roles.
That’s where the Minnesota Skills-Based Talent Accelerator initiative comes in. The initiative is sponsored by the workforce development boards of Anoka County, Dakota and Scott Counties, Hennepin and Carver Counties, Ramsey County, Washington County and the City of Minneapolis, which are all Leading CareerForce Partners, in partnership with Goodwill-Easter Seals, the Twin Cities chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the Minneapolis Regional Chamber and the St. Paul Area Chamber.
Continue reading the story.
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This November, we celebrate caring careers across the metro area and Minnesota. These careers are vital in providing the support that older adults people with disabilities and those with behavioral health care needs require. So, what exactly are these careers and what can labor market information reveal about them? What are these careers like day to day? Let's find out!
Some occupations found within Caring Careers include personal care aides, nursing assistants, social and human service assistants and behavioral and psychiatric health technicians. This list can also include registered nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Home Health Aides and any others serving in a long-term care environment.
DEED's Labor Market Information (LMI) team offers a lot of helpful data about these occupations including estimated employment numbers, hourly wages, typical education requirements, hiring demand and projected growth.
Continue reading this month's Local Look blog.
Workforce Solutions and the WIB continue to support employers in creating welcoming, inclusive workplaces where all employees feel valued. One key resource in this effort is the Inclusive Employer Toolkit, designed to help organizations strengthen inclusion across recruitment, hiring, onboarding and retention. The toolkit offers practical strategies and guidance to help employers build environments where every worker can succeed.
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.
Learn more about the Toolkit.
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Visit Ramsey County's Workforce Training Dashboard to learn more about how the county is connecting residents to the training programs needed to get people started or advancing in a career.
Providers of free or low cost workforce training programs can submit their program information for inclusion on the training dashboard through an easy to use self-submission form. The training dashboard includes nearly 100 training programs in and near Ramsey County across a wide range of in-demand industry sectors.
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 The WIB is proud to sponsor the 2026 Inclusive Workplaces Cohort, a 9-month peer learning journey designed to help Ramsey County employers build more welcoming and supportive workplaces. Each month, we’ll spotlight one of the participating organizations that’s leaning into this important work. This month's spotlight is Wilder, an organization making meaningful impacts in our community. Follow along on social media and in future WIB newsletters to see how these employers are leading by example.
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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:
Community Partner of the Day
Thursdays, 3–5 p.m., at the Roseville Library
Discover something new each week at Partner of the Day! Meet local organizations, explore helpful services and make meaningful connections in a fun, welcoming drop‑in experience. Visit the Partner Directory to learn about local workforce programs and services.
Featured partners:
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 Minnesota's Indigenous Workforce
Nov. 4, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
This November, during Native American Heritage Month, we invite you to a timely and transformative conversation: how to become an Employer of Choice for Native talent — and why Indigenous workers represent one of Minnesota’s greatest, and often overlooked, workforce strengths.
Our panel of experts will unwrap:
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The Untapped Strength of Indigenous Talent. Explore how Minnesota’s tribal nations, Native communities, and urban Indigenous networks are cultivating skilled, dedicated, and community-minded professionals across every sector.
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Equity as a Growth Strategy. Learn how creating meaningful, sustainable, and equitable careers for Indigenous workers builds stronger businesses, more resilient communities, and a more balanced economy for everyone.
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Economic Reconciliation in Practice. Discover how employers can move beyond acknowledgment and into shared prosperity — through hiring, training, and leadership practices that honor sovereignty, culture, and long-term partnerships.
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The metro area workforce boards, in partnership with Goodwill Easter Seals, are expanding the Minnesota Skills‑Based Accelerator program with new workshops designed to strengthen Minnesota’s growing skills‑based ecosystem.
These sessions now support career counselors, employers, industry partners and other workforce stakeholders in preparing job seekers, improving hiring practices and aligning talent strategies statewide. A skills‑based ecosystem connects counselors, employers, and industries around shared competencies, creating clearer pathways, stronger pipelines and more resilient communities.
Virtual introductory primers (one-hour webinars)
Upcoming workshops:
- Industry Workshop (virtual): Skilled Trades, Nov. 5, 8-11 a.m. - Register
Skilled Trades Industry Intensive
- Job Coach & CTE Workshop: Nov. 19, 9 a.m.-noon, Dakota County Northern Service Center, West Saint Paul - Register
- Employer Workshop: Dec. 16, 9 a.m.-noon, Associated General Contractors, Saint Paul - Register
Visit the Minnesota Skills‑Based Accelerator website to learn more.
 Power Within Us introduces justice impacted young people with community-based employment and training programs. We are excited to work with partners across the county to make Power Within Us happen.
Power Within Us will continue to take place at a local community center on the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 4-5 p.m. Sessions will occur on these dates through the end of 2026:
Participants are asked to pre-register to help organizers better understand attendance and provide important logistical details ahead of each session. During monthly gatherings, community partners will continue to share “right now” employment and training opportunities—giving young people the chance to earn income while building skills and exploring career pathways.
For more information, including how to register for upcoming sessions, please visit Power Within Us.
 State Services for the Blind Employer Learning Series
Nov. 12, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
State Services for the Blind and Evolve Employment are launching a six-part virtual learning series for Minnesota employers.
Designed for business owners, HR professionals, recruiters, supervisors and managers, the sessions will provide practical information on disability hiring, employee retention, workplace accommodations, assistive technology, and ADA-related topics. The series begins with Understanding Disability in Today's Workplace and will continue monthly on the second Thursday beginning in November.
Learn more and register.
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A finished vessel is more than craftsmanship at Urban Boatbuilders in Saint Paul, Minnesota; it also represents dozens of small decisions, listening to teammates, correcting errors and keeping up momentum. Young people at this nonprofit organization in Ramsey County are learning these skills and responsibilities to prepare for employment, education and life beyond the workshop.
Urban Boatbuilders is among the community-based organizations that Ramsey County Workforce Solutions partners with to help residents explore workforce options. The organization’s approach is valuable, providing youth ages 12 and up the chance to develop skills, learn workplace expectations and explore career possibilities.
“Our goal is for young people to be able to break cycles of generational poverty and attain self-sufficiency through sustainable career pathways,” said Noah Gerding, Urban Boatbuilders’ Director of Development and Community Engagement.
Continue reading the story.
This article marks the seventh in a series highlighting Ramsey County Workforce Solution’s partners. These community-based organizations deliver specialized employment and training services on behalf of the county. Their efforts expand access to workforce programs through career exploration, job-readiness training and paid work experiences for individuals facing barriers to employment. They are integral in strengthening the local workforce ecosystem and helping residents move toward stable, long-term employment.
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