Recruitment Campaign Helps Meet Local Workforce Needs By Anne Petersen, Clearwater Communications
With more than 23,000 job openings in North Dakota and countless help wanted signs in Bismarck/ Mandan, it is evident workforce attraction and retention is an issue facing many local and statewide businesses. In response to the unprecedented The “Find the Good Life in North Dakota” campaign has resulted growth across the in more than 23 million impressions. state that has led to a shortage of workers for highdemand industries, the North Dakota Economic Development Foundation launched the “Find the Good Life in North Dakota” workforce recruitment campaign.
CHAMBER CONNECTION 1640 Burnt Boat Drive P.O. Box 1675 Bismarck, ND 58502 701.223.5660 www.bismarckmandan.com
Contact Information:
Content: The Chamber - 701.223.5660 rparsons@bismancc.com Advertise: Ryan Parsons email: rparsons@bismancc.com
MISSION STATEMENT: Leaders for prosperity. Advocates for business.
Chamber Staff Kelvin Hullet President Susie Kocourek Senior Program Director Sally Paulson Program Director Ryan Parsons Membership & Publications Director Peg Iszler Director of First Impressions Annie Bergrud Chief Financial Officer Amanda Schwieters Member Services Director Rebecca Rattei Communications Specialist Zac Smith Director of Government Affairs/General Counsel Hannah Haynes Intern Dot Frank USS ND Committee Liaison
“To sustain that growth, we need to ensure that the jobs we are creating are filled with highly-skilled workers, and this campaign is a tremendous opportunity to expand our workforce and promote the quality of life that North Dakota has to offer,” says Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley. The state’s unparalleled growth has created the problem of having more jobs available than there are people to work them, explains Wally Goulet, chairman of the Foundation. “In our strategic planning, the [Foundation] board had been looking for ways to make a larger contribution in assisting economic development in our state.” As a result, the Foundation believed it was necessary for a statewide communication effort to attract permanent workers and their families, and engage them in North Dakota communities in the hopes of making them longtime residents. “With workforce being our number one issue, we determined this would be a good initiative,” explains Goulet.
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