Minneapolis St. Paul Launches Talent Recruitment Program to Attract Jobseekers to Region
MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL, MINN. (PRWEB) October 14, 2015 -- It’s time to let the rest of the country in on a secret: the Greater Minneapolis Saint Paul region is one of the best, and most affordable, places in the nation to build a professional career and a balanced life.
Estimates indicate the Greater Minneapolis Saint Paul region will face a 100,000-worker job shortage by 2020. To get ahead of this shortfall, GREATER MSP is launching a new initiative Oct. 13 called Make It. MSP. in close collaboration with more than 50 regional partners, including 25 corporations, other businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions and government agencies.
“A skilled workforce is key to Ecolab’s future and the future of the region,” said Douglas M. Baker, Jr., CEO, Ecolab and co-chair of the Minneapolis Saint Paul Region’s Talent Task Force. “Make It. MSP. is how companies and community organizations are coming together to focus on talent attraction and retention.”
Make It. MSP. is an initiative designed to attract and retain talent in the 16-county metro area of the Greater Minneapolis Saint Paul region. It also seeks to improve the transplant experience for new residents as they put down roots in the community.
“Minneapolis and Saint Paul have plenty to offer — starting with one of the highest concentrations of Fortune 500 Headquarters in the nation. That means we have reasons to move here, and career advancement opportunities — without having to leave,” said Michael Langley, CEO of the Minneapolis Saint Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership (GREATER MSP). “We’re high on nearly every list ranking great places to live and work in the U.S. Forbes recently listed us as the fourth-largest market for tech growth. We have the highest rates of voter turnout and the best urban parks system in the nation. We’re a top city for bikes, literacy, we offer more theater seats than any place outside New York City— but we’re still not on the radar for many professionals starting their careers, or looking for a new opportunity. The Greater MSP region has one of the world's most vibrant economies and is one of the best places in the world to live — the goal of this initiative is to tell that story.”
The importance of professional workers extends beyond contributions at work— it is also an important demographic for our region’s economic health, because each professional job generates an additional 3.5 jobs.
“In addition to raising our national profile and attracting numbers of new employees, Make It. MSP. focuses on five major goals to permanently contribute to our talent pipeline: improving social inclusion, supporting innovative talent, connecting talent with employers, connecting talent with the community, and closing near-term talent gaps,” added Langley. “We want a great workforce to grow, but we want people to stay and make our region great— for the long term.”
Working with corporate partners, GREATER MSP is developing tools for local recruiters, including an interactive website – http://www.makeitmsp.org - with maps, virtual tours, photos and videos of the region, and a customized job-search portal with open positions as well as social media channels (#MakeItMSP). Recruitment materials, including care packages of fun made-in-the-region products, will also be available to help companies woo and win job candidates.
“We’re enjoying a thriving economy, but to ensure our community is still prosperous down the road, forward-thinking plans like Make It. MSP. are crucial,” said Chris Coleman, Mayor of Saint Paul. “We have a tremendous amount to highlight in the Greater MSP region, from professional opportunities in fast-growing sectors like tech and the medical device industry, to an affordable cost of living and lifestyle amenities that complete the picture. Make It. MSP. will be instrumental in spreading this message.”
“Partnering with GREATER MSP on this initiative will help make sure that we have the talent we need to supply the workforce of the future,” said Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges. “Human talent is our economy's biggest resource. We need to continue to attract workers to Minneapolis and be there to help them thrive and grow as professionals and connected members of our community.”
The Minneapolis Saint Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership
GREATER MSP is a private-public partnership with the mission to accelerate job growth and capital investment in the Greater MSP Region. It partners with economic development organizations throughout the region to develop strategy, brand and market the region, and serve as coordinator for business retention, expansion, and recruitment projects. Learn more at http://www.greatermsp.org.
Jennifer Weismann, [email protected], +1 (612) 716-0556, [email protected]
Share this article