Workforce & Training

Workforce Development Resources

The population expansion bodes well for companies that need an available workforce to fuel their growth. Employers hire the majority of their skilled workforce from Steele County. They also tap rich talent pools in the neighboring five counties as well as in the Twin Cities, Rochester and Mankato — all within commuting distance.

Workforce Development (PDF)
Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages

Riverland Community College

This state-of-the-art campus provides certification, degree programs and customized training.

Employers can tap trained workers from the certificate and associate of arts technical trade programs. They also can access specialized training programs designed to meet their unique workforce development training needs.
http://www.riverland.edu

Minnesota Job Skills Partnership Program

This state-wide program awards training grants of up to $400,000 to local educational institutions and partnering businesses. The grant can be used to train employees in new or existing jobs.

Workforce Recruitment

Owatonna offers growing a strong available workforce. It also attracts skilled employees from five neighboring counties and metro areas within commuting distance – namely Minneapolis/St. Paul, Rochester and Mankato.

Recruiting Resources

Employers rely on local Temp/Placement firms to access available workers. They also take advantage of several not-for-profit resources:

    • Placement Office – Owatonna College & University Center – 507-433-0374
    • Minnesota Workforce Center – 507-455-5850