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Plant Closings/Mass Layoffs/Warn Summary ReportEmployers with 50 employees or more are required by federal and state law to report large layoffs to the state Rapid Response Team.
Our reports identify events, number of workers affected and other relevant information pertaining to large layoffs.
Please submit data requests and inquiries to DEED's data practices compliance official at DEED.datapractices@state.mn.us. We process data requests in order of receipt.
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Partner Express is a monthly resource for Dislocated Worker, Adult Career Pathways and Trade Adjustment Assistance (ACP and TAA) program service providers. Select the links below to view, download or print current and past issues.
For more information about reports, email the Minnesota Dislocated Worker Program or reach us by phone at 866-213-1422 or 651-259-7537.
Regional Labor Markets and Local Look Blogs
Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS)
"When I lost my job at the end of my senior year, I wasn't sure what I was going to do. I was now going to have to take out a loan for college and it was my goal to not take out a loan. When I got the news that someone from Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council's Dislocated Worker Program came and said that they wanted to help the seniors it was an answered prayer. Sandy helped push me to be my best and reach for all my goals. Thanks to her and the Southwest Minnesota Private Industry Council I was able to graduate college without any loans and with so many experiences and memories that will last a lifetime. I got my degree in agribusiness, and I specialized in livestock and dairy. I am now working in the agriculture field which has always been my life goal. Thank you again to Sandy and the Southwest Minnesota Industry Council for everything that they did to help me be successful!"
Source: SW MN PIC, period ending 6/30/22
Having been laid off in November 2020, after 14 years with my previous employer, I was not prepared for another job search. At CareerForce MN, I took workshops on resume writing, creative job search, networking, and interview skills to learn new strategies to expedite my job search. I also found immeasurable success through the CMJTS Dislocated Worker Program, where I was able to earn certification and gain new knowledge to complement my 25+ years of project management experience. As a result, I've successfully returned to the job market as a contractor in the same industry and type of role as my previous position. I firmly believe CMJTS programs and services directly contributed to my success.
Thank you for the excellent state program and the fantastic support at the local level.
Source: CMJTS QPR, 9/30/21
On October 26, 2021 David Becker did an intake for RMCEP services. He was dislocated in July 2021 from Rajala Mill after working there for 14 years. He was looking at a new career in truck driving. David enrolled with Advanced Minnesota's Commercial Driver's License Certificate Program who is a partner with Northwest Technical College in Bemidji. In preparation for the training, David needed to be ready to do part of the training online. The RMCEP team in Bemidji assisted David with purchasing a computer while he got internet hooked up and an internet address created. On December 6, 2021 David started his online classes. On January 6, 2022 David started commuting to Hibbing for the hands on and driving portion of his training. He chose to go to Hibbing as the Grand Rapids had a 2 month waiting list. This meant that he drove 90 miles one way to Hibbing 3 times per week. He was provided gas vouchers to assist with the cost of commuting. On January 31, 2022 David informed his job counselor that he had passed his permit test, tanker and double/triple trailer tests. On March 31, 2022 David passed his Class A CDL license. After job seeking for the next couple of months, David was hired by Knife River Aggregate as a driver. He started his job with them on June 1, 2022 working 42 hours per week at a wage of $28.00 per hour. This employer is a great fit for David as it is based out of Bemidji MN which is close to where David lives.
Source: SDW QPR, Grant 1028500, 6/30/22
Hi, my name is Ralph. I would like to tell you about my story. I had worked at a steel mill for 13 years when we received word that the mill would be closing permanently. We would receive severance and be shown the door in June 2020. Announcement of the closure happened the same month that COVID-19 hit. So here I was, a 40-year-old with a family to support. I never went to college and was facing unemployment with no clue where to go. Scary to say the least, right?
As time was nearing the end at the steel mill, I kept hearing people talking about Minnesota Job Partners. But I had no idea what their Dislocated Worker Program could do for me. I went to the HR department and was told that Minnesota Job Partners could help me find a new job. They could even help with training, so I signed up and was told they would contact me shortly.
Little did I know that signing up with Minnesota Job Partners was going to change my life in the best way possible and change my family's life forever! They teamed me up with my Career Counselor, Kate Flick. I feel it's rare in life to find people who make you feel like you're cared for and that they have your back no matter what happens in life. Kate is one of those people! From day one I felt like she was on my team, and she was in my corner to help me navigate this rough patch.
Kate asked questions about me, and together we decided the best option was to go to trade school for two years and become an electrician. I have always been passionate about tinkering and working with my hands and this seemed to be a great fit. Without Kate and Minnesota Job Partners this would have never happened. With all the support they offer this was the only way I would ever get a chance to go to school to better myself and my family's future. Being the first in my family to attend college was huge for me. Being in school for the first time in 20+ years was tough, but Kate and my family were there to reassure me and keep me going.
It's almost three years since the steel mill closed, and I am the first in my family to graduate from college. Not only did I graduate, but I graduated with honors and was first in my class with a 3.95 final GPA and an A in every class! I was recruited straight out of college and have happily been working for a month now at a large local window manufacturer. This is my dream job as I get to tinker and work with robots all day long! This is the place I was meant to be in life, using my hands and my brain. learning and growing in all aspects of life. I see myself retiring from this company. Never have I felt more alive and excited with life than I am now. Today I value college and the importance of working towards a goal. I'm passing that knowledge on to my kids.
My only regret is that I didn't do this sooner. I have already sent friends and family to Minnesota Job Partners. Their work is very important to people's lives, and I am thankful every day for Kate! If you are going through job loss, I beg you to check them out and see how they can help you find a career you love.
By Maria Isabel Gonzalez
When I got laid off, it was a shock. I was supposed to be promoted, but instead I found myself sitting at a table shocked after a three-minute Zoom call where they laid off myself, my boss, and my coworker.
My background is in theater performance and education, and the unfortunate reality is that neither of those industries pay well enough to reach the goals that I want to achieve. I felt lost and had to decide on a career path.
Recently, I had been interested in technology and I knew people in that industry were paid well. I had never thought of myself as a software practitioner, but I took a leap to find out. I decided to attend Prime Digital Academy to get a certification as a Software Engineer. This certificate cost money, so I needed financial support not only for the tuition but also for personal expenses while I completed the program. I called the Minnesota Dislocated Program and was assigned a career counselor at Minnesota Job Partners.
Working with my counselor was life changing! He took me step by step through the application process and explained how everything worked. I felt so well taken care of due to the dedication, transparency, and empathy of my counselor. Due to all the guidance from my counselor, more than half of my tuition was covered, including class materials. I also got immense financial aid for personal expenses. All this support helped me focus on my studies without financial worries. I graduated from Prime Digital Academy as a Software Engineer in September 2022!
After I graduated, Minnesota Job Partners helped me polish my résumé and job hunt with confidence. I truly appreciated this support because job hunting can be depleting. The support I received from Minnesota Job Partners was unmatched. I started my job in November 2022 at Carnegie Learning as a Software Engineer. I could not be more grateful to Minnesota Job Partners for supporting me through this journey.
by Fong Vang
It's been a little over a year since I was laid off. I worked at a steel mill, where I thought I would stay for a while because the job paid a decent living wage. But we experienced a mass layoff due to lack of demand for steel. I was unsure about what my future would look like. Sure, I was going to receive some financial help through unemployment benefits and severance pay. But "What's next?" I thought to myself.
One door closed, quite literally, and another door opened.
Shortly after, I was introduced to my career counselor, Kate Flick. She has been superb in our journey to redefine my future career. She helped me find what I was passionate about and re-sparked my interest in continuing my education. After going through a few workshops, she suggested I enroll in the University of Minnesota's Coding Bootcamp. I took the full-time course and after three months, I received my Full-Stack Web Development certificate.
During the next few months, I started applying for jobs in my new IT career field. Kate helped me polish my LinkedIn profile and Christine Chelstrom helped me polish my résumé. They connected me with some important people, who helped me land my next job. I will be paid to take a nine-week B2E (Barriers to Entry) Tech Training course with York Solutions. Then I'll be working for their clients under a one-year contract with the option to stay longer if I choose. This is the perfect opportunity to get my feet in the door while creating experience and continually improving my IT skills.
I am happy and grateful to these wonderful individuals who got me to where I need to be. Most importantly, I want to give a huge thanks to Minnesota Job Partners and the Dislocated Worker Program for helping people in need, such as myself. Without that help, I might still be working at another dead-end job. Thank you for putting your trust in me!
