Governor Tim Walz and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) today launched the Drive for 5 Workforce Initiative, a major new effort to prepare more Minnesotans for high-demand jobs in five occupational categories: technology, the trades, caring professions, manufacturing, and education.

"Whether it's teaching our students or innovating in technology, Minnesota has hundreds of employers looking to fill good-paying jobs, and we're working to ensure Minnesotans have access to the training they need to fill them," said Governor Walz. "We're making it easier for Minnesotans to join the workforce, so they can earn family-sustaining wages in high-growth jobs that contribute to our state's economy."

"An investment in our workforce is the best investment we can make in the future of our state," Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. "These programs will open doors for all Minnesotans but especially those that have faced unjust barriers to employment and been overlooked for too long. This initiative is a crucial part of making Minnesota the best state for children and families."

The five occupational groupings offer high-demand jobs, are projected to be high-growth in the years ahead, and provide family-sustaining wages for workers – making them important sectors for both Minnesota's economy and Minnesotans looking to join the labor force.

Through Drive for 5, DEED will partner with workforce development institutions around Minnesota, which will implement or expand job training programs for specific occupational paths. The training programs will be designed to help Minnesotans prepare for and find jobs on an in-demand career path – providing job-ready skills for Minnesota workers and growing Minnesota's workforce for employers looking to hire. DEED has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for potential grantees.

"Drive for 5 is one of the ways DEED is delivering for Minnesota workers and employers," said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek. "This is a strategic approach to two of Minnesota's most challenging problems: employment disparities faced by some of our fellow Minnesotans and a labor force shortage that creates many difficulties for employers looking to hire. We're excited to engage sector partnerships to work together in overcoming these challenges."

Sector partnerships that receive Drive for 5 funding through DEED will provide training that leads to high-quality job placements in these occupations, breaking down barriers to good employment for Minnesotans who have long faced higher unemployment, lower wages, and more tenuous connections to work. Localized sector partnerships are essential to ensure education and training programs are reflective of employers' needs in their local labor markets, facilitating faster job placement for program participants and helping to create a steady talent pipeline for in-demand positions in communities across the state.

Drive for 5 prioritizes training for populations that face the largest disparities in employment: people of color, people with disabilities, people who lack stable housing, and other people who face barriers to family-sustaining employment.

The Drive for 5 initiative is part of a slate of historic workforce development investments Governor Walz secured during the last legislative session. DEED has more than $216.5 million for its Employment and Training Programs over the next two years, including $20 million for Drive for 5 and $50 million to support workforce development in historically overlooked communities through the Targeted Workforce Development Program, which is set to launch in the weeks ahead.

"Over the coming months and years, the Drive for 5 Initiative will help Minnesota fill some of its most critical workforce needs while supporting more Minnesotans embarking on an in-demand career path with family-sustaining wages," said DEED Deputy Commissioner for Workforce Development Marc Majors. "This is just one of the ways that DEED is serving Minnesota workers. We're excited to get to work with our partners on this important initiative."

Minnesota's economy added about 50,000 jobs over the past year, and nearly 200,000 jobs remain open in Minnesota as employers try to find enough workers to fill these vacancies. Job demand over the past two years was at or near record highs in every region of the state and in most industries, with many openings providing opportunities for career growth and family-sustaining wages. View details about job vacancies and projected demand, as well as median wages and educational requirements for positions in the Drive for 5 occupational groups in the article Minnesota’s Drive For 5 Initiative from DEED’s Labor Market Information Office and Governor’s Workforce Development Board.

DEED is inviting nonprofit organizations, state or local government units, including Tribal governments, community action agencies, business organizations, education institutions, labor organizations, trade associations, chambers of commerce, and community-based organizations to submit proposals to create sector partnerships.

Interested applicants are urged to submit their proposal by December 11, 2023. Drive for 5 Request for Proposal can be found on DEED's website. DEED will host a webinar for interested applicants on October 19 at 2:00 pm. More information is here.