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Minnesota Shifting Gears: Advancing Low-Wage, Low-Skilled Workers

Minnesota Shifting Gears is a joint initiative with the Joyce Foundation and the GWDC aimed at improving state adult education and postsecondary policies to enhance the workforce in the Midwest. The project focuses on adult student transitions from ABE to postsecondary education, strengthening links between supply and demand, and implementing system and policy changes.

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Minnesota Shifting Gears: Advancing Low-Wage, Low-Skilled Workers

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  1. Minnesota Shifting Gears:a system and policy change initiative to advance low-wage, low skilled workers Minnesota Shifting Gears A joint initiative with the Joyce Foundation and the GWDC

  2. The Project • Joyce Foundation $10 million, 3-year venture capital effort to improve state adult education and postsecondary policies • Initiative includes: Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin • Desired result: a better educated and more competitive workforce in the Midwest Minnesota Shifting Gears A joint initiative with the Joyce Foundation and the GWDC

  3. The Purpose • Improve adult student transitions (ages 25-54) from ABE to post secondary • Strengthen links between supply and demand to advance low-wage workers • Develop cross-cutting agendas for state agencies for systems and policy change Minnesota Shifting Gears A joint initiative with the Joyce Foundation and the GWDC

  4. The Partners • Business and Industry • Governor’s Workforce Development Council • Jobs Now Coalition • MN Department of Education- Adult Basic Education • MN Department of Employment and Economic Development • MN Department of Human Services • MN State Colleges and Universities Minnesota Shifting Gears A joint initiative with the Joyce Foundation and the GWDC

  5. Population Focus • Adults with low basic skills with some work experience who may or may not be employed currently, have high school diplomas, or be fully proficient in English • Low Wage/Low Skill – The lowest 25th percentile of wage distribution of earners ages 25-54 and is adjustable based on the actual wage per state region Minnesota Shifting Gears A joint initiative with the Joyce Foundation and the GWDC

  6. Long-Term Impact Goal • To increase the percentage of workers with credentials valued by local employers, that lead to higher individual earnings. Minnesota Shifting Gears A joint initiative with the Joyce Foundation and the GWDC

  7. MN Planning Focus • A statewide system and policy change effort to address the question: “How can we create an easily accessible path for low-wage, low-skilled workers to advance within the education and training infrastructure and in demand-driven occupations?” Minnesota Shifting Gears A joint initiative with the Joyce Foundation and the GWDC

  8. Why This is Important • # of HS graduates peaks in 2009 with steady decline for next two decades • It will take 21years of high school graduates combined to equal the same number of current working age adults who don’t have a college degree. Minnesota Shifting Gears A joint initiative with the Joyce Foundation and the GWDC

  9. Minnesota Shifting Gears A joint initiative with the Joyce Foundation and the GWDC

  10. Key Findings • Random acts of excellence- limited, if any systemic support for replication of employer driven industry sector projects. • Transitions between ABE, ESL and postsecondary need “bridge programs” andassessment alignment to reduce remediation and to provide dual enrollment opportunities for contextual learning. • Need for better data connections to investigate the relationship between wage rates and stability of employment by funding a comprehensive study of the wage data set over time. Minnesota Shifting Gears A joint initiative with the Joyce Foundation and the GWDC

  11. Recommendations and Next Steps • A full report of recommendations and an implementation plan is in development led by MnSCU and ABE • Seeking $1M from Joyce Foundation for implementation over next two years Minnesota Shifting Gears A joint initiative with the Joyce Foundation and the GWDC

  12. Thank you Brenda Norman, Executive Director Governor’s Workforce Development Council brenda.norman@state.mn.us 651 259-7569 Minnesota Shifting Gears A joint initiative with the Joyce Foundation and the GWDC

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