Gov. Tim Walz has proclaimed September as /deed/assets/workforce-development-month_tcm1045-401642.pdfWorkforce Development Month. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) recognizes that workforce development is now more important than ever – and will continue to be in the coming months and years as we move through economic recovery.

Many people who lost jobs due to the pandemic will need help finding a new career path. Helping people build the right skills for the future is good for families, good for communities and good for business. Preparing people for the jobs in demand tomorrow is the important role of workforce development today.

A cornerstone of workforce development efforts are training programs, apprenticeships and earn-and-learn opportunities to help people prepare for sustainable employment. CareerForce is taking steps to help make more people aware of training programs and other opportunities to help build skills necessary for in-demand jobs. Reskilling and upskilling are especially important now because some sectors of the economy may take some time to rebound to full pre-pandemic employment and people may need to take jobs in occupations different from the ones they were in prior to COVID-19.

The pandemic has brought new and intense focus to our work of matching people looking for work with jobs in demand now. Exploring ways of expanding our use of technology in career matchmaking – including more outreach to employers – is something we plan to continue into the future.

The pandemic may have pushed our adoption of remote technology forward more quickly than anyone had planned, but the virtual delivery of career exploration and job search services was underway long before COVID-19 came along. Thousands of Minnesotans have learned in online workshops and "met" employers hiring now through virtual career fairs. They've had personal phone meetings with job coaches and used other remote opportunities to explore career options and land their next job during the pandemic.

Virtual career exploration and job search services offer some distinct advantages:

• People don't need to travel to a location in order to meet hiring employers, participate in workshops or get one-on-one help. Virtual options help people with disabilities, challenging schedules, and those with barriers to transportation access services. Many people prefer virtual services, especially if they can access them on a schedule and complete them at a pace that's right for them.
• Recognizing that not everyone has the ability or the desire to access services online, it's important to know that in-person workforce development services will continue to play a key role in the future, although their delivery may look different. Online options or hybrid learning will likely continue to connect job seekers to these opportunities without requiring them to come in person.

CareerForce will continue to use technology and virtual services to serve those it is reaching now, while doubling down on efforts to reach those who need workforce development services but aren't being served. These efforts include partnerships with local libraries, expansion of services in languages other than English and more work in the community to reach people where they are.

In addition, CareerForce is focused on addressing the digital divide that prevents many Minnesotans looking for work now from connecting with the employers who need them. Events like the one held yesterday in Minneapolis, where free computer packages were distributed to people in need, will continue to be part of our strategy to help people break down digital barriers. We will also continue to enhance efforts to provide digital skills assessments and classes with our workforce development partners.

The future of workforce development must include a more intentional focus on equity. Racial and ethnic disparities in educational attainment, employment and economic stability have persisted for far too long. The pandemic has highlighted the pervasive nature of these disparities in a way that cannot and must not be ignored. DEED, and our partners in CareerForce, are dedicated to breaking down barriers that hold people back and rebuilding a more equitable Minnesota – where all Minnesotans have an equitable opportunity to succeed. This goal guides all we do as we look to the future of workforce development in Minnesota.