Afghan Evacuee Resettlement Update
As evacuees from Afghanistan have arrived in Minnesota, there has been a coordinated effort to assist them at various levels. Minneapolis Employment and Training (MET) has been a leader in connecting evacuees with jobs and training. Here is a high-level overview of this effort.
- Since September 2021, Minnesota has welcomed over 1,200 evacuees from Afghanistan, an effort that represents our state level implementation of the federal government’s Operation Allies Welcome.
- Over 30% of the evacuees in Minnesota have relocated to Minneapolis, and over 50% are residing in Hennepin County.
- Evacuees enter the United States with Humanitarian Parole, an immigration classification which grants the right to live and work in the US for 2 years. Advocacy is growing to create a permanent residence pathway for this community through passing the Afghan Adjustment Act in Congress.
- Most Afghan arrivals work with Refugee Resettlement Agencies and Community Partners to find homes, community connections, and employment opportunities in the Twin Cities metro area.
- Afghan evacuees come to the United States with various skills and expertise. Over the last 6 months, MET has worked closely with city staff and external partners, including the Department of Human Services (DHS), to identify employment-related needs and opportunities within this community.
- MET will hire an Afghan Employment Services Coordinator to serve as an intermediary between the DHS funded agencies and the employment organizations operating throughout the metro, as well as Greater MN.
- The coordinator will add value to all agencies as a connector of opportunity to employment and training programs across our state, opening the full suite of potential services available to these new job seekers. Employment service delivery providers, whether nonprofit or CareerForce locations, will benefit from a coordinated information exchange on the ever-changing full suite of career pathway and other opportunities available. This new position, an example of person-centered design, represents a model for the future of tailored, responsive employment services for new arrivals in our city and state.
Contact the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs to learn more about other ways in which the City of Minneapolis is supporting the resettlement effort.
Minneapolis Employment and Training (MET) Awarded Funding
MET was awarded $800,000 by Midwest Urban Strategies to provide Dislocated Worker services under a U.S. Department of Labor Career Dislocated Worker Grant focusing on marginalized communities in Minneapolis and the metro area. A Request for Qualifications was released in October 2021. An objective panel reviewed and evaluated the applications and selected CLUES as the agency to provide services for this grant. The two-year grant runs from September 24, 2021, through September 23, 2023 and will provide services to 200 dislocated workers inthe Minneapolis/metro area.
In early December, MET was awarded a $247,504 DEED Pathways to Prosperity grant for our Health Hire initiative to continue work with Project for Pride in Living and CAPI on Healthcare+, Healthcare Clerical, and Nursing Assistant Pathways.
From MN Association of Workforce Boards: Workforce Shortage Details
The Minnesota House Workforce and Economic Development Committee held a hearing focused on the state's workforce shortage with a presentation from DEED Commissioner Steve Grove. Economic trends and workforce demands discussed in this hearing are explained in an article by Jenna Fortney, the Director of the Minnesota Association of Workforce Boards.
Read the full article
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Step Up Featured in Minnesota Parent Magazine |
Read the Minnesota Parent profile
Share with your network! The Step Up program offers summer internships for youth ages 14 to 21 to build skills, earn money, and explore careers. The program has offered more than 30,000 internships since 2003 and is celebrating its 20th year.
Step Up internships open doors to employers who may not typically hire teens and offers experiences in the corporate sector, government, and nonprofit organizations. Interns ages 14 and 15 are matched with jobs that offer training, support, and work that is geared toward younger workers. Interns ages 16 to 21 build professional skills and test drive careers by working with private sector or government employers.
“For many young people, an internship with Step Up can be a game-changer,” says Step Up Director Tammy Dickinson. “The experience builds confidence and helps them to connect with professionals who become part of their network and can open doors to new experiences for years to come.”
 News Articles from DEED:
High Demand Jobs in the Metro Area
- List of jobs in highest demand including wage information, projected growth rates, openings and educational requirements.
DEED's Data Center
DEED on Twitter
CareerForce on Twitter
Minneapolis Workforce Development Board Meeting
Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2022
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Virtual Meeting
Members and Guests, due to the Covid-19 public health emergency, the meeting will be held remotely. The public is welcome to listen to the meeting. Guests will be muted. Member attendance and all actions will require a roll call vote. Agenda will be sent to members in advance and available online at least 24 hours before the meeting.
Meeting information is available on the City's Boards and Commissions calendar
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