Writer: Ryan Gandolfo
2 min read June, 2023 — Every state is grappling with new strategies to retain their workforce, and Minnesota is no exception.
At the recent Invest: Minneapolis-St. Paul 2022-2023 Launch Conference, leaders in education highlighted what their institutions are doing to develop the future workforce in the MSP area and the state.
Moderated by Jen Swanson, founder and CEO of Tuckpoint Advisory Group, the panel, titled “A Midwest Work Ethic: Creating a qualified workforce for the future in a changing Minnesota,” featured Sandy Kiddoo, president of Northland Community & Technical College, Cristo Rey Jesuit School President Jason Morrison and Lori Kloos, president of St. Cloud Technical & Community College.
The panelists spoke about the concerted efforts made at the K-12 and higher education levels that should address challenges on the horizon.
“We are experiencing the same talent shortage and enrollment cliff and know in 2026 we aren’t going to have as many incoming graduates. We are really trying to engage our students and need to get more exposure. Last year 50% of high school students were considering going directly into the workforce. One of the things we’re rethinking is how the curriculum is delivered and partnering our companies with students so they can directly pay tuition,” said Kiddoo, addressing the audience during the conference at W Minneapolis – The Foshay.
Kiddoo and her team have developed partnerships with regional employers like Marvin Windows to attract talent to these communities and spur further investment in workforce development.
SCTCC’s Lori Kloos acknowledged that students are coming into higher education needing further assistance nowadays. “There is an achievement gap, so we’re looking at what we can do to break down barriers and look at the curriculum. We need to support our students so they can reach their full potential,” said Kloos.
In the past year, the college has prioritized student engagement and made the campus more welcoming and inclusive so students can achieve new heights. The offerings and events that SCTCC delivers has also propelled the college’s programs, including culinary and carpentry to advanced manufacturing.
While much of the conversation centered around the future needs of the Minnesota workforce, Morrison noted that “At Cristo Rey Jesuit High School Twin Cities, we are the workforce of today, not just tomorrow or the future.”
This is demonstrated by the 140 corporations that the school partners with throughout the Twin Cities, including Bakken Museum, Humane Society, 3M, U.S. Bank and United Healthcare Group, among others.
“Our relationship with our corporate partners is not transactional; it’s transformational. We get the opportunity to build the pipeline of talent for the future,” Morrison said.
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