The future of our workforce isn’t something we can plan for later—it’s something that we need to do right now. That’s why I attended the 2026 Workforce Forum, an event presented by the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce last week. The Workforce Forum was a convening in Moorhead that brought together employers, workforce professionals, educators and community partners who are all invested in building the talent pipeline our region needs. 

As someone who works closely with businesses that are struggling to find and retain talent, I see firsthand how quickly the workforce is evolving—and how important it is to pause, listen and collaborate with partners who are facing the same challenges from different angles.

The Workforce Forum did exactly that. Rebecca Ryan’s keynote on future workforce focused on the 5 Principles of Futurism. Something that stuck out to me was how Rebecca advised that companies need to plan for multiple futures and not get stuck on just one. I also heard updates on housing, childcare, immigration and homelessness. The event reinforced something I know to be true: Employers can’t solve labor shortages without understanding the real-life barriers workers face, and workers can’t succeed without employers willing to think differently about hiring and retention.

What stood out most to me was how well this event aligned with the goals of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Drive for 5 Workforce Initiative. Drive for 5 prepares Minnesotans for high-demand jobs on a path to family-sustaining wages in five occupational categories: the caring professions, education, manufacturing, technology and the trades. Events like this create space for employers to connect not only with each other, but with the systems that are preparing their future workforce. Many individuals coming out of DEED-funded employment and training programs are skilled, motivated and ready to work—but they need employers who are open to skills-based hiring and non-traditional career pathways. 

In my everyday role, I help bridge that gap—connecting employers in Drive for 5 industries with workers who have completed DEED-funded training and are eager to apply their skills. This forum strengthened those connections, reinforced shared priorities and reminded me of why collaboration matters. When employers, educators, nonprofits and workforce professionals come together like this, we move closer to building a workforce system that works for everyone.

• Employers, contact your regional Employer Engagement Specialist
• If you’re looking for work or looking for workers, contact a CareerForce location near you
• Learn more about the Drive for 5 Workforce Initiative