June 2017

For Your Calendar

Minneapolis Workforce Development Board Meeting

Date: Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Time: 8:00 a.m.  - 9:00 a.m.

Location: Lutheran Social Services Minnesota, 2400 Park Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 

STEP-UP Worksite Walking Tour

Date: Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Location: Lutheran Social Services Minnesota, 2400 Park Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis Unemployment Rate Rises Slightly in May

The May 2017 unemployment rate rose slightly to 3.3 percent, up .1 percent from April, resulting in 7,903 residents unemployed and actively seeking employment, an increase of 411 unemployed from April to May.

The federal government’s estimate of the Minneapolis labor force rose between April and May with 1,706 residents joining the labor force, resulting in a total labor force of 235,925. The year-over-year trend for May shows higher labor force participation and the same unemployment rate from a year ago.

May’s 3.3 percent unemployment rate in Minneapolis is .1 percent lower than the State of Minnesota, .1 percent higher than the seven county metro area, and .8 percent lower than the national average. 

Minnesota Unemployment Rate Falls in May

Minnesota’s unemployment rate fell to 3.7 percent in May, matching a post-recession low point last seen in June 2015, according to seasonally adjusted figures released by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The U.S. unemployment rate in May was 4.3 percent.

Minnesota employers eliminated 7,200 jobs in May, after adding 28,200 jobs in the previous three months. Over the past year, the state has added 48,068 jobs, a gain of 1.7 percent. Jobs nationally are up 1.5 percent over the past year.

In the Metropolitan Statistical Areas, the following regions gained jobs in the past 12 months: Minneapolis-St. Paul MSA (up 2 percent), Rochester MSA (up 1.1 percent), St. Cloud MSA (up 2.1 percent), Duluth-Superior MSA (up 1.1 percent) and Mankato MSA (up 0.8 percent).

Find more information in this press release.  

The May Minnesota Employment Review is now available.

Find past issues of the Minneapolis Workforce Development Board News here.

STEP-UP Interns Begin Work

2016 STEP-UP Intern at KBEM-FM Jazz 88.5 (Source: STEP-UP)

You may have noticed an influx of enthusiastic, professionally dressed, young people during your commute this month. That’s because over 1,700 work-ready Minneapolis youth began their STEP-UP summer internships with over 230 employers in June. These young people are the future of our city. So if you see them on the bus or on the train, please make them feel welcome.

One of the country's premiere youth employment programs, STEP-UP places Minneapolis youth ages 14-21 in paid internships with top Twin Cities companies, nonprofits and public agencies. STEP-UP also provides work readiness training, on-the-job experience, professional mentors, advanced career opportunities and ongoing support. The program serves populations that face the greatest barriers to employment, particularly low income youth, youth of color and recent immigrants. Since 2004, STEP-UP has provided over 23,000 internships.

STEP-UP is a City of Minneapolis program provided in partnership with AchieveMpls. Other partners include the Minnesota Workforce Centers and Project for Pride and Living. Learn more about STEP-UP at stepupmpls.org or follow STEP-UP activities and events all year long on social media with hashtag #STEPUPMpls.”

PEACE Helps Students Find Their Career Pathways

The PEACE (Pathways to Emergency & Academy Career Experiences) program, administered by Minneapolis Employment and Training, is a collaborative initiative designed to promote access and entry into Justice and Emergency Services (JES) career pathways for low-income, court-involved, or at-risk Minneapolis youth, ages 16 to 21. Students learn about JES careers through mentoring by a career professional, mini-academies, and a paid summer internship in the field.

To date, 39 students and 26 mentors are enrolled in the program. Internships are being offered by the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD), 911, the Minneapolis Fire Department (MFD), Hennepin County, and the City Attorney’s Office (CAO).  In addition to internships, PEACE students can participate in career academies developed by partners at MPD, MFD, 911, CAO, Hennepin County, and the FBI.

On June 15, PEACE held its first monthly mentor event that included games and 1:1 time between mentors and mentees.  PEACE staff received great feedback about the matches being good fits.

Pictured below: PEACE students (Source: City of Minneapolis Employment and Training)

Apprenticeships Could Fill Next-generation Jobs

With employers struggling to find qualified workers and job openings projected to grow into the near decade, apprenticeships - long associated with construction trades - may help companies recruit and train their own next-generation employees in a greater variety of industries.

To help offset the cost of launching or expanding an apprenticeship program, employers in advanced manufacturing, agriculture, health care, information technology, and transportation can apply for grants from the Minnesota Apprenticeship Initiative. The five-year apprenticeship program, now in its second year, is financed through a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor and administered by DEED and the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.

Fairview Health Services has brought on 120 people through the initiative and is adding more in its program to help nurses with associate’s degrees complete their bachelor’s degrees in nursing, according to Laura Beeth, Fairview’s Director of Talent Acquisition. Fairview is also preparing registered apprenticeship programs to train medical assistants and surgical technicians.

Find the entire article here.  

Fairview Recognized As a Frontline Worker Champion

Pictured L - R, Kelly Aiken, VP and CareerSTAT Director, National Fund for Workforce Solutions; Laura Beeth, System Director Talent Acquisition, Fairview Health Services; Regina Pekarek, Workforce Development Consultant Fairview Health Services; Joanne Pokaski, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, CareerSTAT Chair. (Source: Fairview)

In June, Fairview Health Services was named a 2016 Frontline Worker Champion, a national recognition for health systems that welcome and honor those who work on the front lines of health care.

Fairview works with state agencies, workforce centers, education providers, and community organizations to develop the region and state’s overall health care workforce. These organizations work together to develop health care career pathways and make health care training more accessible. Their efforts have been particularly helpful in diversifying the region’s health care workforce.

Fairview makes learning and career advancement accessible by offering on-site learning opportunities, “earn and learn” programs like apprenticeships, academic and career counseling, mentoring, and

academic readiness programming. Fairview also provides scholarships, tuition reimbursement and discounted tuition with partner institutions.

In addition, frontline workers are supported by sponsorship programs, help with educational expenses, and often a position in their field upon graduation.

Learn more.