Inclusive Workforce Employer (I-WE) Designation

Region 3 Central MN

What is I-WE designation?

Application process and “stamp of approval” for employers to become certified which indicates to the public, they are inclusive with their workplace practices.

I-WE is an employer-driven designation.

I-WE Goal

Reduce disparities and raise awareness of the value of and methods for increasing diversity by creating a designation to recognize and promote inclusive employers.

I-WE Background

Idea developed by the Community Workforce Inclusion Council (CWIC) in Northwest Minnesota in Fall 2019

Presented and approved to the Regional Workforce Alliance (RWA)

Five pilot organizations receive designation in pilot phase in July 2020

Webpage launched in Summer 2020• https://www.rwa-nw.org/inclusive-workforce-employer

Central MinnesotaRace and Origin Stats

Minnesota Race & Ethnicity Projections

Population

MinnesotaPopulation Estimate/Projection

2018 – 2038 Population Projection

2018 2028 2038 2048 Numeric Percent

Total Population 5,611,179 5,971,790 6,245,661 6,431,506 +634,482 +11.3%

White, Non-Hispanic 4,459,268 4,472,424 4,386,920 4,215,298 -72,348 -1.6%

Black or African American, Non-Hispanic

367,582 500,131 641,439 785,012 +273,857 +74.5%

American Indian or Alaska Native, Non-Hispanic

59,933 64,634 67,881 69,685 +7,948 +13.3%

Asian or other Pacific Islander,Non-Hispanic

287,834 385,583 487,305 590,971 +199,471 +69.3%

Two or More Races, Non-Hispanic

127,279 164,015 201,786 239,054 +74,507 +58.5%

Hispanic, of any race 309,283 385,003 460,330 531,486 +151,047 +48.8%

Minnesota State Demographic Center

Minnesota Age Projections

Age Cohort

MinnesotaPopulation Estimate/Projection

2018 – 2038 Population Projection

2018 2028 2038 2048 Numeric Percent

Total Population 5,611,179 5,971,790 6,245,661 6,431,506 +634,482 +11.3%

0 to 14 years 1,086,377 1,132,018 1,175,043 1,211,743 +88,666 +8.2%

15 to 24 years 717,874 747,449 773,888 800,480 +56,014 +7.8%

25 to 34 years 760,925 773,745 809,009 836,557 +48,084 +6.3%

35 to 44 years 710,265 791,437 806,340 836,023 +96,075 +13.5%

45 to 54 years 691,491 694,485 771,118 781,936 +79,627 +11.5%

55 to 64 years 754,445 643,428 645,838 712,344 -108,607 -14.4%

65 to 74 years 510,180 651,726 554,081 553,960 +43,901 +8.6%

75 years and over 379,622 537,502 710,344 698,463 +330,722 +87.1%

Minnesota State Demographic Center

Criteria for I-WE Designation

1. Express a commitment to an inclusive workplace in their stated values, mission or policies.

2. Assess how diversity, equity and inclusion influence their work and culture.

3. Provide diversity, equity and inclusion education for staff and leadership.

4. Allocate resources to support and sustain an inclusive and equitable workplace.

I-WE Commitment Process & Docs

Employer-driven designation opportunity I-WE Application Welcome (onboarding) Inclusive Employer Toolkit Designation Survey (application for recognition) Promotional Material Inclusive Workforce Employers by Regionhttps://www.rwa-nw.org/inclusive-workforce-employer

Examples of Diverse Populations

Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC)

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Asexual & Allies (LGBTQA)

People with Disabilities

People with a Criminal Background

Older Workers

Socioeconomic Status

Immigrants

English as a Second Language (ESL)

Veterans

Gender

People with various racial, ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds

* These are only a few examples of diverse populations of what can be included in your diversity, equity and inclusion program. * Not all populations can work in all career fields (e.g., criminal background working in banking or health care).

I-WE Certified Member Perks

Employers can leverage the I-WE designation to recruit and retain employees from an increasingly diverse talent pool

By having the I-WE designation, employers are recognized to be inclusive employers of choice in their area

Diverse workforce

I-WE Certification

I-WE Logo Use (showcase on website home page, careers page, job descriptions, social media, hiring flyers/ events, business cards

Highlighted on Regional I-WE Page

Exclusive Member of Regional I-WE Networking Group

Exclusive Annual I-WE Member’s Career Fair

I-WE Promotional Materials

Cultural & Diversity Training Opportunities

Stage 1: Develop Region 3’s I-WE Program – March 2021Stage 2: Regional I-WE Informational Presentations – Spring 2021Stage 3: Run Pilot Program with 3-5 Businesses – Summer 2021 Stage 4: Press Release & Social Media Campaign – Fall 2021Stage 5: Grow Initiative – Ongoing

Region 3’ I-WE Plan

Della Ludwig, Workforce Strategy ConsultantMN DEEDdella.ludwig@state.mn.us 320.423.0121

Leslie Wojtowicz, Development ManagerCentral Minnesota Jobs and Training Services, Inc.lwojtowicz@cmjts.org 763.271.3757

Angie Dahle, Business Services ManagerCareer SolutionsAngie.dahle@csjobs.org 320.308.5334

Questions?