Welcome back, bizfolk, to the right question: How can Minnesota build its skilled workforce?
December 19, 2006
StarTribune
Lori Sturdevant
It was predictable -- economically, demographically, politically. The skilled worker shortage that was all Minnesota employers talked about in the late 1990s was bound to be back.
All it took for the "too-few-workers" lament to return were a solid recovery from recession, the start of boomer retirements, and a squeeze on state higher education spending.
Sure enough, "workforce" is back on top as the No. 1 "drag on economic growth" in Minnesota. That's according to the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce's latest findings from a year of interviewing 797 business owners around the state. Worker issues beat out lousy transportation and -- amazingly -- high taxes, which have fallen to Gripe No. 3.
The same worry is afflicting the 110 biggies who make up the Minnesota Business Partnership, said its executive director, Charlie Weaver. Availability and quality of trained workers are "the No. 1 issue for our members. How do we ensure that we'll have a workforce that can do the job?"
Posted by john5091 at December 19, 2006 1:00 PM