Sept. 27- NGA Forum Focuses on Educational Attainment

ST. PAUL – Workforce challenges and strategies for increasing postsecondary training and credentials in Minnesota will be among topics addressed at the National Governors Association (NGA) Forum on Increasing Postsecondary Credential Attainment for Adults in St. Paul.

The forum will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Sept. 29 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel St. Paul Riverfront, 11 E. Kellogg Boulevard. There is no charge to attend the forum.

”A skilled, trained workforce is among several reasons why so many large and small companies call Minnesota home,” said Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner and featured speaker Dan McElroy. “Employers will only increase their demands for highly skilled workers, and we need to invest time now to prepare for the future.”

A recent study by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce indicates that by 2018, 70 percent of jobs in Minnesota will require a postsecondary education. This is well above the national average of 63 percent.

“There is a critical skills gap between what employers need and the skills and competencies of workers,” said Linda Baer, Senior Program Officer, Postsecondary Success, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. “Now more than ever, school, colleges, employers and communities must join in unprecedented partnerships to create and sustain globally competitive workers for today and tomorrow.”

Dr. Baer, previously Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Students Affairs with Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, will also be speaking at the NGA forum.

Other presentations will be given by representatives from the NGA, the Center on Law and Social Policy, the states of Washington and Wisconsin, and the Governors Workforce Development Council.

The agenda will include an overview of Minnesota FastTRAC, an initiative designed to improve education and employment outcomes for adult Minnesotans, especially those lacking basic skills.

The forum is sponsored by the NGA Center for Best Practices and DEED, with funding from the Lumina Foundation. Get more information about the forum.

The forum will be held immediately prior to the 15th Annual Minnesota Development Conference, which brings together economic development, workforce development and education professionals. To register for this event, please visit http://tinyurl.com/2vy6ako. The cost to attend the Development Conference is $199.

To read the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce study, ‘Help Wanted: Projections of Jobs and Education Requirements through 2018 visit http://cew.georgetown.edu/jobs2018.

DEED is the state’s principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development. For more details about the agency and its services, visit www.PositivelyMinnesota.com. Follow DEED on Twitter at http://twitter.com/positivelymn

Upon request, the information in this news release is available in an alternative format such as Braille, large print, audiotape or computer disk.

Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Communications Office
Phone 651/259-7161 or 1-800-657-3858 ∙ TTY 1-800-657-3973
www.PositivelyMinnesota.com