Central ND News

The North Dakota Department of Commerce has unveiled the findings from its North Dakota Workforce Ecosystem Assessment, a detailed examination of the state's workforce landscape. Conducted by Deloitte, this 20-week assessment aimed to evaluate current programs and services within the state. The report was developed in collaboration with the Workforce Development Council (WDC) and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) core partners, including Job Service ND, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Adult Education.

The assessment gathered insights from a variety of stakeholders, revealing several key themes:

Stakeholders have expressed a need for more unified leadership and a clear central vision to enhance statewide workforce outcomes. Although partnerships within the ecosystem are strong, access to programs often relies on personal connections, leaving many employers and jobseekers unaware of available resources. Barriers such as childcare, housing, and transportation continue to impact employment readiness significantly in rural communities.

Access to programs remains limited in rural areas compared to urban centers, creating challenges for these communities. A persistent mismatch exists between worker interests and employer needs, indicating a demand for more workers and faster adaptation of training programs to evolving demands. Many programs face limitations due to stagnant federal funding amid increased demand, which hinders innovation and staff retention efforts.

Challenges in data sharing across various programs create redundant processes for jobseekers and impede efficient collaboration among partners. "This assessment gives us crucial insights into our workforce ecosystem," said Commerce Deputy Commissioner and Workforce Development Director Katie Ralston Howe. "It clearly outlines where we need to focus our efforts to build a stronger, more responsive workforce for North Dakota."

Despite these challenges, the report also highlighted strengths such as innovative initiatives like the Regional Workforce Impact Program (RWIP) and Job Placement Pilot Program (JP3), alongside a strong collaborative spirit among leaders.

The assessment identified four key areas for future focus: defining strategic goals for ecosystem steering; streamlining access while engaging with customer needs; enhancing outreach efforts; improving data collection and sharing practices.

Commerce is committed to working with all partners involved to address these findings with an aim towards creating a more effective workforce system throughout North Dakota.

For those interested in reviewing the complete report can do so at https://www.commerce.nd.gov/workforce.