In a city known for its resilience, innovation, and civic pride, the City of Minneapolis Employment and Training plays a central role in connecting residents and businesses to opportunity while helping shape a more comprehensive local economy. As the workforce development division for the City of Minneapolis, Employment and Training, often referred to as MET, supports systems that help people prepare for meaningful work and employers access the talent they need to thrive.
Under the leadership of Director Deb Bahr-Helgen, MET serves as the administrative entity for the Minneapolis Workforce Development Board, aligning community needs, business priorities, and workforce strategies across the city. Their work spans youth and adult services, employer engagement, and place-based delivery models, all grounded in a shared goal: helping residents move into stable, family-sustaining employment with pathways for long-term mobility.
For decades, MET has helped reduce economic disparities and expand access to good jobs for people of color, people with disabilities, and residents who live in areas with high poverty and unemployment. Working alongside a strong network of community-based partners, MET supports 10,000+ job seekers each year through programs designed to meet both individual and employer needs.
That commitment is reflected in the breadth of MET’s programming. Adult services include short-term career pathway training that leads to industry-recognized credentials, individualized career counseling through WIOA programs, services that help job-ready individuals find and keep employment, and comprehensive support for dislocated workers navigating career transitions. Youth programming is equally robust, with initiatives like Journey Forward, which provides wraparound support for justice-involved youth, and Youth Works, which offers year-round employment assistance for both in-school and out-of-school youth.
One of MET’s most recognized initiatives is Step Up, the City of Minneapolis’ signature summer youth employment program. Now entering its 24th year, Step Up has placed more than 30,000 young people into paid internships with public, private, and nonprofit employers across the metro area. These early work experiences help youth build skills, confidence, and professional networks while supporting employers in developing the next generation of talent.
MET’s impact is also strengthened through its location-based service model. From the Cedar Riverside Opportunity Center, a collaborative hub serving one of the city’s most diverse neighborhoods, to CareerForce locations on the north and south sides of Minneapolis, MET brings workforce services directly into the community. The Minneapolis Apprenticeship Outreach Office further supports this ecosystem by serving as an information and navigation hub for individuals interested in registered apprenticeships, offering workshops and one-on-one guidance to connect residents with high-quality career pathways.
At the heart of MET’s work are stories like Linda’s. After being laid off from her childcare job of seven years, Linda wanted to pursue a new career but needed guidance to take the next step. With support from a Dislocated Worker program counselor, she explored training options and enrolled in an office administration career pathway. The skills she gained quickly resonated with employers. Within four weeks of completing the program, Linda secured a full-time position as an office manager, earning $8,000 more annually than she had in her previous role.
Minneapolis is a founding member of Midwest Urban Strategies, joining the network to exchange best practices and collaborate with other Workforce Development Boards that prioritize innovation, responsiveness, and high-quality service delivery. Throughout their MUS membership, MET has benefited from shared learning, federal grant participation, and ongoing dialogue around youth programming, policy developments, and implementation strategies across the Midwest.
Those connections have been especially valuable as MET continues to strengthen programs like Step Up, drawing on insights from peer organizations and implementing new tools that enhance effectiveness. The MUS Community of Practice has provided a trusted space for collaboration, helping MET stay responsive to workforce trends while remaining grounded in local needs.
As Minneapolis continues to demonstrate strong labor force participation and industry diversity, MET’s work remains essential to sustaining an economy that is resilient, inclusive, and prepared for the future. By centering people, partnering with employers, and aligning systems around real opportunity, the City of Minneapolis Employment and Training shows what is possible when workforce development is intentional, collaborative, and rooted in community.
