September 2026
9/1/2026 10:01:03 AM
Jeanna Fortney, Director, DEED CareerForce Division
In Minnesota, we celebrate /deed/assets/workforce_development_month_proclamation_tcm1045-766797.pdfWorkforce Development month in September — a time to highlight how workforce development professionals across the state are connecting Minnesotans with employment and helping employers hire the staff they need for their businesses to thrive. It's also an opportunity to reach out to those with barriers to employment to help them prepare for and find family-sustaining work.
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), Minnesota's 16 Local Workforce Development Boards (LWDBs) and other members of Minnesota's workforce development system are currently serving larger numbers of job seekers in many locations than they were a few years ago, even as a smaller share of Minnesotans is engaged in the labor force.
Minnesota, along with much of the nation, is experiencing a time of economic uncertainty and a shifting labor market, due to factors like changes in international trade policy, growing use of artificial intelligence (AI), a decline in international migration and higher-than-normal inflation. The efforts of workforce development professionals are critically important in helping workers and employers adjust to our evolving labor market.
The Job Search Experience Survey shows insights from job counselors serving Minnesota job seekers. Nearly 56% of respondents to the most recent survey said it was harder than a year ago for their job-seeking customers to find work. The most common open-ended responses described how they are helping people overcome barriers to employment, including a lack of childcare and transportation, a criminal record or language challenges. Job counselors also say AI is having a growing impact on job seekers: 42% say that their job-seeking clients' employment or job search has been affected by AI in the past three months — an 83% increase since July 2025.
On the other hand, Minnesota employers continue to face challenges finding the workers they need despite the loosening labor market, according to the Employer Experience Survey. One common theme in the responses: Staff say that while employers may have more applicants for open positions, they still lack qualified applicants, especially for the trades and entry-level health care roles.
DEED and other state agencies and offices, along with LWDBs and workforce development partners throughout Minnesota, focus every day on identifying the skills employers need and helping job seekers develop those in-demand skills to find or stay in stable, family-sustaining employment. These collaborative efforts include welcoming new workers to Minnesota, retaining and upskilling current workers, reaching out to include often-overlooked communities and targeting training investments to help Minnesotans develop in-demand skills.
Our partners in the CareerForce system help job seekers prepare for and find work with a range of no-cost services, as well as training programs for eligible Minnesotans. CareerForce is made up of DEED and LWDB staff who, along with other workforce development partners, offer services in person, over the phone and online. CareerForce professionals help people explore their career options, access training, prepare for job interviews, update their resume and network to find employment as quickly as possible.
DEED launched Minnesota's new labor exchange this summer: CareerForce.MN.gov. This website provides a no-cost way for Minnesota employers to market their openings via Post-a-Job — and helps people looking for work find their next opportunity. Here are a few of the site's features:
We invite Minnesotans to connect with one of the more than 50 CareerForce locations around the state by visiting CareerForce.MN.gov/locations or by calling 651-259-7500.
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