Community News
Minnesota’s New Labor Exchange The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced on June 10, 2026 the roll- out of CareerForce.MN.gov as the state's official online labor exchange, replacing MinnesotaWorks.net. The new site is mobile-friendly, has more job search resources and is easier to access. The appropriation will continue to fund enhancements to CareerForce.MN.gov in the coming months. Additional investments in the labor exchange replacement project were provided by DEED and the Minnesota Jobs Skills Partnership.
BENEFITS FOR EMPLOYERS WHO POST THEIR OPEN POSITIONS ON THE POST-A-JOB PLATFORM • Post Minnesota jobs with no fee to post. • Reach thousands of Minnesota job seekers; CareerForce. MN.gov already gets a half million pageviews by more than 50,000 job seekers each month. • Leverage the statewide CareerForce network of workforce professionals who connect job seekers with jobs.
DEED announced this transition after more than two years of stakeholder communications, feedback gathering, building the exchange and training related to the transition. Considered state of the art when it first launched in 2007, MinnesotaWorks.net eventually came to be dated and difficult to maintain and use. Funding for the labor exchange replacement project was largely provided by the Minnesota Legislature during the 2023 session, as part of a one-time $10 million appropriation for DEED workforce digital transformation projects.
2026 National Community Survey Launches
"We rely on community feedback to guide our work," said City of Rochester Management Analyst Jessica Schuler. "Your voice matters. When residents take the time to participate, it gives us meaningful insights that help us make data-informed decisions and improve services across the City." Responses are confidential and reported only in summary form. The City reviews results across demographic groups to better understand community trends, but individual responses are not shared publicly. Survey findings will be presented during the Nov. 9, 2026, City Council study session and published online shortly afterward.
The City of Rochester has launched the first phase of the 2026 National Community Survey (NCS), with approximately 4,500 randomly selected households receiving mailed invitations to participate. The survey asks residents to rate quality of life in Rochester and the performance of City services. Results help identify strengths, highlight opportunities for improvement and guide City decisions over time. THE SURVEY WILL BE CONDUCTED IN TWO PHASES: • Beginning July 13, approximately 4,500 randomly selected households will receive postcards inviting them to participate in the National Community Survey. • From Aug. 17 through Sept. 7, the survey will be open to all Rochester residents. Residents can participate in the National Community Survey online during that time.
Learn more at www.rochestermn.gov/council- administration/community-survey
36 | ROCHESTER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ADVANTAGE MAGAZINE — AUGUST 2026
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