An executive order signed by the governor will remove the requirement of a four year college degree as a qualification for 75% of state government jobs.
The move by the Walz/Flanagan administration aims to expand the pool of potential applicants available to fill staff shortages in a tight labor market while breaking down barriers and giving more Minnesotans the chance to join the state workforce.
“This levels the playing field. We have a lot of positions to hire for in state government and we think there are Minnesotans ready to fill them,” said Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan. “A four year college degree should not be the only path for building a career and getting a good paying and family-sustaining job."
State government is the third largest employer in Minnesota, with more than 50,000 people holding jobs in more than 100 state agencies, boards, commissions, colleges, and universities. About 90% of them are represented by one of 17 occupationally-based bargaining units. Most state jobs come with insurance, benefits and pensions in addition to a competitive salary.
“We recognize that they are folks who have gained valuable knowledge and skills in a variety of ways besides having a college degree,” Flanagan said. “Data tells us is that often women who don’t meet 100% off the requirements in the job posting will not apply. We are putting out the call to them and asking them to bring their lived experience to these jobs.”
Flanagan is also bullish on the job-building potential of the state’s newly announced Expanding Opportunity Fund. The $10 million program will provide low-interest loans to small businesses. Administered through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), the Expanding Opportunity Fund will strengthen and benefit small businesses that face longstanding institutional barriers to borrowing.
“Our nonprofit lender partners will use the funding to provide additional capital to small businesses. The best part is that these nonprofits are embedded in their communities. They often share the culture and the identity of their borrowers and can focus on serving their targeted populations,” Flanagan said. “They are well positioned to support entrepreneurs who often struggle to get loans: women, people of color, Native folks, immigrants and people who live in Greater Minnesota.”
As a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, Flanagan said she understands the value of using community partners as funding partners.
“For myself, as a Native woman, I am going to feel more comfortable going to a nonprofit with people with a similar lived experience who understand where I come from. You’re with people who just get it,” she said.
Flanagan pointed to the success of the first Black Entrepreneurs Day at the Capitol as an example of how small business owners addressed barriers they face with legislators and policy makers. Held last February as the state was setting its budget priorities, Black Entrepreneurs Day brought 400 minority business owners to St Paul to lobby for greater state support.
“For so many folks, it could be a $10 thousand, $20 thousand gap to have a successful business. We should work as hard as we can to fill the gaps in these communities that have been underserved,” Flanagan said. “So many of the ideas and the concepts that meet the needs of underserved communities come from the communities themselves.”
The second Black Entrepreneurs Day at the Capitol is scheduled for February 16, 2024.