Forum Gets the Community Talking About Jobs
Competition is high for every position, with the job market as tight as it is. We know that puts job seekers who possess fewer skills and limited work histories at an extreme disadvantage.
But, jobs for this group are not expected to return as the economy recovers, and that puts us ALL at a long-term disadvantage, said Dr. Timothy Bartik, senior economist at Upjohn Institute, in his keynote address at an employment forum, co-sponsored by PPL in early November. He was joined by four panelists who provided state-wide context and discussed strategies for job creation.
One hundred fifty policy makers, community leaders, and members of economic development agencies attended the forum, titled: The Jobless Pandemic: Prescription for a Cure. Along with PPL, sponsors were Twin Cities Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), JOBS NOW Coalition, and Affirmative Options. Jerry Paquin, President of Key Property Development Company, and PPL board member, emceed.
Bartik was invited to speak about his published research on labor policy, which includes the call for the U.S. government to replicate a 1980s Minnesota jobs program known as Minnesota Employment and Economic Development program (MEED). It was a wage subsidy program that put thousands of Minnesotans back to work during the 1983-1988 economic downturn.
The panelists spoke of the current situation and practical applications of wage subsidy. Jane Samargia, Executive Director of HIRED, gave a first-hand account of the growing numbers of people in need of training in orderto become employable. She, like others in the discussion, emphasized that the best training happens on the job.
As a testament to this point, panelist Cierra Adams described gaining employment through work-sponsor funds provided through Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP).
Paul Carlson, from Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency, described how the Iron Range Resources Wage Subsidy Program supports jobs in manufacturing, wholesale trade, retail trade, transportation and warehousing, finance and insurance industries, as well as professional and technical services, and management of companies and enterprises.
James Glowacki provided an employer’s perspective. He founded his company, JPG Creative, using MEED funds to employ a small number of people. His business now has several offices and employees, some from those first days.
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“The bottom line argument for this program is that it works. It keeps on increasing employment, year after year.”
-Dr. Timothy Bartik