 | The next business climate chill: worker shortage
Minnesota may be experiencing an unemployment blip now. But a few years from now, the shortage that will be vexing the state's economy won't be of jobs, but of skilled workers -- unless Minnesotans mobilize soon to better educate more people.That message was deemed so important by the planners of this year's sesquicentennial observance that they put it under their Chautauqua big-top at the State Fair Monday, to go down along with the toe-tapping musical show about the state's history, "Old Minnesota." (Yours truly moderated a pair of panel discussions.) It's part of the birthday planners' effort to spark public conversation about the challenges coming in the Minnesota's next 50 years.
The combination of the retirement of baby boomers and the underachievement of students of color, the only segment of Minnesota's young population that's growing, is forecast to leave the state 13,000 college grads short of the number business needs by 2015.
What does that mean? Employers will choose to expand elsewhere, and may leave the state. Shortages of teachers, doctors, and technical professionals will drive up health care and education costs. Public services will cost more as the tax base shrinks, pushing taxes higher or eroding the quality of public services -- or both.
Avoiding those problems is still possible, panelists said, but concerted action will be required. Among the strategies fairgoers heard: Target low-income high school students -- especially immigrants -- for guidance through the college admissions process. Make colleges more accommodating of non-traditional students. Step up corporate and philanthropic support for student financial aid. Recruit and train more volunteers as mentors for potentially college-bound youth.
To those worthy ideas, I'd add this: Shield higher education -- and particularly student aid -- from the brunt of state budget cuts that are likely coming in 2009. Another raid on higher education funds like the one Minnesota witnessed in 2003 would be tantamount to (get ready for a State Fair-inspired metaphor) eating one's seed corn.
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