ST. PAUL – State Rep. Dean Urdahl, R-Acton Township, has accepted an appointment to serve on a task force formed to help Minnesota’s education system better match the state’s workforce.
The Career Pathways and Technical Education Advisory Task Force evolved through legislation Urdahl authored in the 2013 session. There are 21 members on the panel, which will provide the Legislature with recommendations on how to make structural improvements in secondary and postsecondary to help Minnesotans develop skills sought by the state’s workforce.
The most recent Minnesota Dept. of Employment and Economic Development report shows 45 percent of businesses in the state indicate a moderate or serious workforce shortage. The most severe gap is with skilled production (58 percent), followed by scientists and engineering (40 percent).
“Our goal is to diminish the skills gap we have in Minnesota by learning how we can develop workers who are prepared to meet workforce demands,” Urdahl said. “We face significant challenges, especially with an aging workforce. We can do much more to match workforce development with the professionals and training providers in Minnesota and I am pleased to be a part of this mission.”
Urdahl, the lone Republican legislator on the panel, accepted his appointment from chairman Carlos Mariani, D-St. Paul. The task force is required to provide recommendations to the Legislature’s leaders on K-12 education committees by Feb. 15.
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Dean Urdahl represents District 18A in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Rep. Urdahl can be contacted by email at rep.dean.urdahl@house.mn or by phone at 651-296-4344. To receive email updates sign-up on his webpage at www.house.mn/18a.