High-Tech Alliance

MHTA is leading a coalition of technology-based employers to find solutions aimed at closing Minnesota’s STEM skills gap. There are an estimated 11,000 STEM jobs in Minnesota, that remain unfilled – the High-Tech Alliance is working to address this gap.

MHTA is actively engaged with more than 15 different Minnesota-based technology workforce initiatives. The association’s primary goal is to ensure technology businesses are represented as various foundations and state and local agencies pursue workforce programs. MHTA’s involvement is structured around the key objectives outlined below:

• Provide information and communicate latest trends in workforce development to deliver high-quality candidates for every open STEM position.
• Increase re-employment of displaced STEM workers through training opportunities.
• Increase the number of two and four-year college STEM graduates.
• Promote STEM careers in grades 6-12 to increase the number of high school students entering post-secondary programs.

The Minnesota PIPELINE (Private Investment, Public Education, Labor and 
Industry Experience) Project is an innovative approach to address current and future workforce needs. It serves as a catalyst for developing industry-based, employer-driven, dual-training programs throughout the state. The project targets four high-growth industry sectors with limited experience with Minnesota’s apprenticeship system: advanced manufacturing, agriculture, health care services, & information technology

By leveraging Minnesota’s success with registered apprenticeship and focusing on the targeted industries, the PIPELINE Project is assisting employers to change the question from “How do we get workers with the skills we need?” to “How do we give workers the skills we need?” Dual training, like apprenticeship, is an earn-as-you-learn approach where the employer invests in its employee by building a training infrastructure, developing career pathways and investing in the employee’s education.

The objectives of the PIPELINE Project are:

• engage employers, educators, labor and public agencies to support employment-based education;
• enhance Minnesota’s skilled workforce; and
• expand dual-training and registered apprenticeship in Minnesota

Dream It. Do It. is a national manufacturing careers recruitment strategy developed in 2005 by The Manufacturing Institute. Minnesota is one of approximately 33 states currently participating in the Dream It. Do It. effort. Which was created to attract workers to fill the approximately 600,000 open manufacturing jobs in the U.S. Its focus is to increase awareness of the high paying, high quality career opportunities available in manufacturing.

Minnesota Dream It. Do It. introduces the world of today’s advanced manufacturing and provides resources to engage students, parents, educators, and manufacturers. Minnesota Dream It. Do It. provides useful information to inspire and build a talented pipeline of youth who understand what manufacturing is and what skills and education are needed to prepare for a career in manufacturing.

The purpose of the Dream It. Do It. Campaign in MN

• Inspire young people to prepare for and seek careers in Advanced Manufacturing
• Improve the public’s image of manufacturing
• Influence schools, parents, and guidance counselors to embrace manufacturing careers
• Involve Minnesota Manufacturers in a leadership role

Career Academies are re-imagining education for high school students by improving graduation rates and preparing the next generation to assume key roles in our workforce. Career Academies is a comprehensive method using cross-sector partnerships to prepare students for academic and workplace success and supply future workforce needs of local employers.

United Way supports 13 Career Academies in five school districts; more than 270 students in Bloomington, Burnsville, Minneapolis, St. Paul and White Bear Lake. United Way is also investing and partnering with Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC) on Destination: Diploma to Degree, recognized earlier this year by the United States Labor Department. The program helps more than 150 students at risk of dropping out of high school as they pursue postsecondary credentials and the goal of sustaining careers.

Deciding to work in the IT industry is an exceptionally good choice. Getting an IT certification can help you get started and get ahead in your career. The CompTIA IT Certification Roadmap can make navigating the world of certifications a little easier.​

You can download a PDF of the Roadmap, or check out the interactive pathway.

The MHTA Foundation is working to encourage more high school students to choose to pursue STEM careers through Tech Experience Tours.

Since May 2015, 200 students have participated in a Tech Experience Tour, and with the help of a generous grant from the AT&T Foundation, the MHTA Foundation anticipates up to 300 additional students will get to experience a Tech Experience Tour during the 2016-2017 school year.

In today’s fast-changing economic environment, one thing remains the same: the need for a talented workforce. To help provide a better picture of Minnesota’s STEM workforce demand, MHTA has put together a series of weekly workforce updates, ranging from all STEM occupations to those in Information Technology, Medical and Life Sciences, and Science and Engineering. Data for these reports is provided by Talent Neuron with analysis support from Real Time Talent.