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New tool to connect employers who need workers with workers who need jobs

Jul 17, 2020 10:35AM ● By Editor
From the Cook County Chamber of Commerce - July 17, 2020

Many of Cook County businesses are suffering through summer with an inadequate workforce, the result of a quick, if partial, rebound for our economy, plus the absence of our traditional cadre of international workers. But the anticipated end to enhanced emergency unemployment insurance benefits on July 25 may suddenly swell the ranks of Minnesota workers available for Cook County jobs. 

While these benefits, which provided an additional $600 weekly federal benefit to workers receiving unemployment compensation, played a  beneficial role in preventing Americans from falling into poverty and privation, they also inadvertently made it more difficult for employers to find workers when the economy began to rebound.

With the expiration of those benefits July 25, income for many will fall suddenly and severely. It will become an urgent priority of the state to match unemployed Minnesotans with employers seeking workers.

As one answer, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is promoting its free, online minnesotaworks.net job bank as a terrific place for Minnesota employers to find the Minnesota workers they need, and vice versa. DEED Commissioner Steve Grove talks about the services available in a recent blog post here: https://mn.gov/deed/newscenter/social-media/deed-developments/#/detail/appId/1/id/440690

To take advantage of the online DEED job bank, each Cook County employer will need to create an account at minnesotaworks.net and follow the required verification steps before they can post their jobs.

Cook County residents looking for work also can use the DEED job bank by registering on the same website, minnesotaworks.net

This is potentially a great way for Cook County employers to connect with people in other areas of Minnesota who are seeking work. Our hospitality industry appears to have rebounded more quickly than in the state's urban areas, leaving a pool of unemployed Minnesotans who know hospitality and may be available to take jobs in Cook County.

Contact:
Jim Boyd
Executive Director
Cook County Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 805 15 North Broadway
Grand Marais, MN 55604
218-387-2079 (office)
218-387-2466 (home)
218-370-9665 (cell)
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