What if—we had all the skilled people we need to realize amazing opportunities in technology, inclusion and sustainability? 

What if—our region was a top destination for new graduates from around the country? 

What if—every young adult of color was recruited into a high-demand career in our region? 

That’s not our reality today—but what if it was our future? It can be IF we come together and build a new regional strategy to renew our strength in talent and workforce. When we create our strategy and execute it together, we will recapture an edge that will make our region more competitive, more prosperous—and healthier. 

At the NEXT 24 event, Andrea Walsh, president & CEO of HealthPartners, laid out what we’re doing next in talent.  

“Together, we are creating a strategy that’s based on the latest data and informed by ten years of action and experimentation,” she says. “A comprehensive strategy that includes developing, retaining and attracting the workforce of our future. A strategy that delivers transformational—not incremental—gains.” 

The good news is, we aren’t starting from scratch. We have years of experience with our GREATER MSP Partnership platforms: Make.It.MSP., ConnextMSP, Business Bridge and more.  

In 2023, we laid the collective groundwork: 

• Hosted a summit for GREATER MSP investor organizations where cross-sector leaders agreed on the need for a comprehensive regional talent strategy. 
• The MedTech 3.0 Coalition, which includes HealthPartners, has outlined a strategy that would unite Minnesota around key occupations.  
• The Minnesota CHIPS Coalition has a baked-in plan to create 7,000 good jobs in the semiconductor industry. 

“We need a strategy as bold and as focused as what we’re pursuing to build the next generation of health care, technology, food and new climate industries,” Walsh says. “Because we need readiness for all those new jobs for the health and well-being of our community and every person who’s a part of it.”  

This year, a new regional Talent Task Force will synthesize what we’ve learned and clarify the problems we need to solve. We are recruiting you into this work—so watch for an event for GREATER MSP investors and partners later this year.