June 05, 2018
Workforce Development Council and Greater ND Chamber partner on employer survey to address workforce shortage
Burgum, Kommer encourage participation in first-of-its-kind survey; results will be used to craft recommendations for workforce development
BISMARCK, N.D. (June 1, 2018) – Gov. Doug Burgum and Labor Commissioner and Job Service North Dakota Executive Director Michelle Kommer today announced a new survey asking North Dakota’s employers to identify their most pressing workforce issues. Survey results will provide valuable input for workforce development recommendations to the governor.
The survey, a first-of-its-kind for North Dakota and part of a wider workforce research study, is being sponsored by the North Dakota Workforce Development Council (WDC) and the Greater North Dakota Chamber (GNDC). A link to the survey is now live [link]. For the next two weeks, North Dakota’s employers are encouraged to give their input on the challenges they face.
“Workforce is one of the three pillars of our Main Street Initiative and the single biggest barrier to our economic growth, and we needed a new way of finding solutions to this critical challenge,” Burgum said. “The uniqueness of this approach is that it is based on priorities derived from detailed data and evidenced-based research. That’s why it’s so important for all North Dakota employers to complete this survey.”
“There are more than 14,000 open jobs posted with Job Service North Dakota,” Kommer said. “We estimate the actual number of job openings is significantly larger, and the needs in our near future could be double that figure. We need a workforce capable of meeting North Dakota’s unique and evolving needs in the 21st century. But first we need to identify and prioritize those needs.”
According to Kommer, partnering with the GNDC on this project was essential to executing an employer survey of this size and importance.
“With our strong base of large and small member businesses throughout the state, we were excited to partner with the WDC on this important research project,” said GNDC President and CEO Arik Spencer. “We believe this collaborative effort will maximize our pooled resources and reach the employers we need to fill out this critical survey.”
The two-week survey will be monitored daily, and results will be evaluated for trends and patterns by the Center for the Study of Public Choice and Private Enterprise at North Dakota State University.
The Workforce Development Council (WDC) consists of a group of dedicated state-wide representatives from both private industry and labor, appointed by the Governor. While in place since 1995, Governor Burgum has reinvigorated the WDC, through reorganization, new expectations, and new membership. With workforce as one of the Governor’s three Main Street Initiative priorities, he has tasked the WDC with conducting a comprehensive state-wide review, which, for the first time, will result in data-driven, evidence-based research, designed to produce targeted workforce recommendations to the Governor for his 2019-21 policy agenda.
About the Greater North Dakota Chamber (www.ndchamber.com): The Greater North Dakota Chamber is the state’s premier business advocacy organization. With more than 1,000 members across the state, in every economic sector, GNDC represents the interests of our members in promoting policies and initiatives in pursuit of making North Dakota’s business climate the best in the nation.
Governor’s Office contact: Mike Nowatzki, 701.328.2424; Aaron Weber, 701.328.2937
Job Service ND contact: Sarah Arntson, 701.328.3031
Burgum, Kommer encourage participation in first-of-its-kind survey; results will be used to craft recommendations for workforce development
BISMARCK, N.D. (June 1, 2018) – Gov. Doug Burgum and Labor Commissioner and Job Service North Dakota Executive Director Michelle Kommer today announced a new survey asking North Dakota’s employers to identify their most pressing workforce issues. Survey results will provide valuable input for workforce development recommendations to the governor.
The survey, a first-of-its-kind for North Dakota and part of a wider workforce research study, is being sponsored by the North Dakota Workforce Development Council (WDC) and the Greater North Dakota Chamber (GNDC). A link to the survey is now live [link]. For the next two weeks, North Dakota’s employers are encouraged to give their input on the challenges they face.
“Workforce is one of the three pillars of our Main Street Initiative and the single biggest barrier to our economic growth, and we needed a new way of finding solutions to this critical challenge,” Burgum said. “The uniqueness of this approach is that it is based on priorities derived from detailed data and evidenced-based research. That’s why it’s so important for all North Dakota employers to complete this survey.”
“There are more than 14,000 open jobs posted with Job Service North Dakota,” Kommer said. “We estimate the actual number of job openings is significantly larger, and the needs in our near future could be double that figure. We need a workforce capable of meeting North Dakota’s unique and evolving needs in the 21st century. But first we need to identify and prioritize those needs.”
According to Kommer, partnering with the GNDC on this project was essential to executing an employer survey of this size and importance.
“With our strong base of large and small member businesses throughout the state, we were excited to partner with the WDC on this important research project,” said GNDC President and CEO Arik Spencer. “We believe this collaborative effort will maximize our pooled resources and reach the employers we need to fill out this critical survey.”
The two-week survey will be monitored daily, and results will be evaluated for trends and patterns by the Center for the Study of Public Choice and Private Enterprise at North Dakota State University.
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The Workforce Development Council (WDC) consists of a group of dedicated state-wide representatives from both private industry and labor, appointed by the Governor. While in place since 1995, Governor Burgum has reinvigorated the WDC, through reorganization, new expectations, and new membership. With workforce as one of the Governor’s three Main Street Initiative priorities, he has tasked the WDC with conducting a comprehensive state-wide review, which, for the first time, will result in data-driven, evidence-based research, designed to produce targeted workforce recommendations to the Governor for his 2019-21 policy agenda.
About the Greater North Dakota Chamber (www.ndchamber.com): The Greater North Dakota Chamber is the state’s premier business advocacy organization. With more than 1,000 members across the state, in every economic sector, GNDC represents the interests of our members in promoting policies and initiatives in pursuit of making North Dakota’s business climate the best in the nation.
Governor’s Office contact: Mike Nowatzki, 701.328.2424; Aaron Weber, 701.328.2937
Job Service ND contact: Sarah Arntson, 701.328.3031
