Identify Workforce Needs focus group

The Fergus Falls Area Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MNSCU) system in a series of conversations to identify the state’s workforce needs.

More than 50 focus groups are planned with business and industry representatives throughout Minnesota to gain a more precise understanding of employers’ current and future workforce needs – how many workers and professionals with what types of skills will be needed in which regions of the state for what kinds of jobs.

The Fergus Falls meeting will focus on manufacturing and will be on Thursday, April 26^th at 2:00pm at the Otter Tail Power Community Rooms.  There is no cost to attend. However, participants are asked to register at www.mnworkforceneeds.eventbrite.com.

The listening sessions will focus on six industry sectors: energy, engineering, healthcare, information technology, manufacturing and transportation. Sessions will be scheduled later this summer in the areas of agriculture and in the fall for the insurance and financial services sectors. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and a variety of other organizations are supporting this effort.

The information collected will be used by MnSCU and other higher ed institutions to align their curriculum – certificates and degrees, worker retraining, custom training – to ensure that higher education is producing graduates with the skills necessary for the success of Minnesota’s businesses and communities. To identify locations of the meetings and the industry sector, and to register, go to www.mnworkforceneeds.eventbrite.com.