Gather and Build a Sustainable Workforce across Southeast Minnesota
If you’re an employer having trouble with recruiting, staff training, and retaining good employees, you’re not alone and you know it. Collaborating with Workforce Development, Inc. (WDI) can make the difference in attracting and maintaining a team of satisfied and productive employees. Connect with us to help your company gather and build a qualified, sustainable workforce.
WDI can provide you with recruitment assistance, local labor market information, original research, best retention practices, staff training, and much more. We can also help you manage the transition for dislocated employees and create opportunities for workers with disabilities in across Southeast Minnesota with MaxAbility.
You can learn more about our services for employers below. You can also call the WDI office nearest to you today to learn how WDI can help find employees for your company’s unique situation!
Employer Outreach
WDI Employer Outreach Specialists (EOS) strengthen the workforce in SE Minnesota by listening to area employers’ needs, educating the local talent pool to fill those needs, and supporting businesses with state and federal funding opportunities to help then optimize their workforce potential. The EOS team is comprised of Career Planners and staff from each of the ten counties across the WDI service area. The principle focus of this team is to connect with employers of all types and sizes and to be the primary contact and resource for employers to the myriad of resources that WDI and the state of Minnesota has to offer. The team also relays any feedback from the business community regarding the current business climate back to state and workforce partners, to ensure decision makers stay informed on what challenges local businesses are facing. All of these services are offered at no cost to the employer.
WDI Employer Outreach Specialists (EOS) Team
Dodge County // Desirae Dyke, ddyke@wdimn.org, 507.634.7381
Fillmore & Houston Counties // Erin Hoefs, ehoefs@wdimn.org, (Number coming soon!)
Freeborn & Mower Counties // Jenna Overland, joverland@wdimn.org, 507.431.3905
Goodhue & Wabasha Counties // Cyndi Reese, creese@wdimn.org, 651.764.1583
Olmsted County // Kortney Wobbe, kwobbe@wdimn.org, 651.565.2635
Rice & Steele Counties // Kim Purscell, kpurscell@wdimn.org, 507.431.3903
Outreach Director, Kortney Wobbe, kwobbe@wdimn.org, 651.565.2635
Recruitment and Retention
WDI organizes weekly and annual hiring events, job fairs, and other recruitment initiatives. For example, you could present to motivated job seekers at our regular Career Café events. WDI also facilitates industry-specific, and more general, job fairs for job seekers throughout the area. Call us today to learn how to participate in these fairs. Employers can also drop off applications and job materials at our WDI offices and our professionals will share them with interested job seekers.
Need to retain your employees more effectively? WDI can help you there, too. We offer regular events geared for employers who wish to create teams that people want to join, and work environments in which people want to stay. We can also help you create an employer-based mentoring program, which studies have shown is one of the most effective ways to create satisfied and productive employees. According to a poll conducted by the National Welfare to Work Partnership, mentoring has a significant impact on employees entering the workforce:
- 75% of businesses reported improved work performance;
- 67% reported higher job retention;
- 63% reported reduced absenteeism; and
- 52% found cost savings for their company.
Labor Market Information and Research
One of WDI’s many strengths is its knowledge of local labor trends. Our staff meets with employers to conduct labor market surveys that provide the ten-county area with local information on training, staff development, and business needs. We can also conduct yearly focus groups with human resource representatives and business owners to discuss current employment and training needs.
In addition to original market research, we work closely with thousands of job seekers individually. We can give you bird’s-eye and on-the-ground information to help you develop smart recruitment strategies for employees in Southeast Minnesota.
On-the-Job Training and Wage Subsidy Contracts
Employers can receive reimbursement for training wages, up to 90% depending on the company size, for eligible new hires during the initial training period up to six months. In addition, we also offer an incentive contract that provides reimbursement for wages to train eligible new hires. These are win-win deals that can save you money and net you more productive employees. Call us today to learn more!
Staff Training
WDI works with employers to develop a staff training plan unique to their needs. That could mean WDI classes for workers to gain job skills or connecting with local educational institutions for specialized training. Regardless, WDI will work with you individually to develop a training plan. Our wide-context perspective of the labor market, knowledge of employee development, and ability to provide individual attention can make the difference for a satisfied and reliable workforce. Contact us today to learn how we can tailor a program specifically for your company.
