Future of Ramsey County Workforce Readiness Depends on Digital Literacy

Hybrid and remote work continue to reshape Ramsey County’s economy. Although the pandemic accelerated the shift, the trend has remained strong. With approximately one-third of Saint Paul’s and Ramsey County’s job postings listed as hybrid or fully remote in the first ten months of 2025, the region’s workforce is increasingly expected to work and collaborate online.

Yet, not all residents possess the digital knowledge or skills necessary to capitalize on these growing opportunities.

“Confidence is a significant barrier for many; they often just need an extra push to overcome the fear of ‘I can’t do this,’” said Shabazz-Adasi Milton, an American Connection Corps AmeriCorps Member with Neighborhood House. “But once you really understand their stories, you see how much potential there is. Sometimes a single laptop is the key that helps those passions take shape.”

Earlier this year, Ramsey County Workforce Solutions hosted Erin Olson, Senior Director of Strategic Research at RealTime Talent, for a webinar entitled, Top Trends to Watch in Ramsey County’s Workforce Landscape. The webinar, in part, investigated the presence and influence of hybrid and remote work in Ramsey County.

What Does Workforce Readiness Look Like in a Digital-First Economy?

Industries that lead the way in hybrid and remote hiring in Ramsey County, such as human services and information technology, require a baseline of digital literacy among applicants, including:

• Managing email and communication platforms
• Using shared calendars
• Completing online applications
• Accessing cloud-based systems
• Uploading résumés or documents

Too often, there is a gap between the tools and skills prospective employees possess and the baseline employers need for their roles.

Katrina Benson, Director of Adult Education Programs at Neighborhood House, plays a significant role in advancing digital equity for adults across the community. When asked about the most common challenges residents face, she identified three recurring issues:

1. Limited access to up-to-date devices or reliable home internet
2. Building digital resiliency with navigating technology
3. Interrupted formal education or unfamiliarity with digital tools

“We support learners in building their confidence, as many fear they will break the laptop or cannot recover from mistakes,” said Benson. “The goal is to build digital resilience, meaning strengthening the ability to troubleshoot, remain calm, and work through unexpected issues while navigating new technologies.”

Jobs for the Future has an excellent description of digital resilience.

Enter the Digital Navigator: Confidence, Access, and Empowerment

Neighborhood House is a Ramsey County community-centered hub for crisis support and long-term economic mobility, assessing and helping to reduce the disconnect many potential employees face.

Neighborhood House supports workforce readiness and digital resiliency through individuals in the role of Digital Navigator, like Milton. Their work includes:

• Securing low-cost laptops for residents
• Helping families sign up for affordable home internet
• Offering one-on-one digital navigation appointments
• Teaching basic skills in computer classes
• Learning about each client’s goals and strengths

Milton often sees clients who arrive believing they already know how to use a laptop, but their confidence drops once they begin setting up the device. He reassures them by saying, “I am here. You are not alone. We will get through this together.”

Although he sees as many as seven clients weekly, demand is rapidly increasing.

How Does Digital Inclusion Strengthen Ramsey County’s Workforce?

Neighborhood House relies on collaboration with several regional partners to strengthen its digital inclusion initiatives, which aim to support individuals wherever their capabilities lie.

Ramsey County’s Digital Equity Direct Appropriation helped provide funding to facilitate device distribution and support Spanish Computer Basics Classes. Minnesota Tech for Success provides refurbished computers and access to no-cost training and digital certification courses. The Lyndale Neighborhood Association’s Spanish ELDES curriculum was used to teach a Spring and Summer Spanish Computer Skills course at Neighborhood House for adult learners who are new to computers.

Beyond the Workplace

Today, digital literacy has become inseparable from economic mobility, going far beyond accessing hybrid and remote opportunities. Everyday tasks once learned in English classes, such as communicating with landlords, scheduling medical appointments, or staying in touch with a child’s school, now also require digital fluency.

The Neighborhood House approach is to recognize the wholeness of every person’s needs and well-being. Programming offers career-readiness classes for adults, food support, housing stability services, family coaching, and additional resources.

The Adult Education Program offers classes in citizenship, GED, career readiness, and English language skills for adults. Each aims to enhance employment potential, pursue higher education, and foster connections to the community, thereby putting individuals on the path toward independence, stability, and a bright future.

The Housing Stability program is based on the concept that safe housing is the foundation needed to address any other concerns in a person’s life. Staff work to prevent evictions and homelessness by providing emergency financial assistance and collaborating with county and community partners to locate available resources.

What Comes Next for Ramsey County’s Workforce?

Ramsey County’s economic resilience depends on ensuring every resident has the skills, tools, and confidence needed to thrive in a digital-first workplace as hybrid and remote work opportunities continue to grow.

“Ramsey County’s residents have passions and dreams,” said Milton. “We help them access the tools to pursue them.”
While employment trends across industries continue to present new challenges and opportunities in Ramsey County, Workforce Solutions can assist both employers and job seekers. Email us at employerservices@co.ramsey.mn.us today! Explore workforce demographics in Ramsey County here and sign up for the Workforce Innovation Board, Youth Works!, and Job Seeker newsletters to learn more about workforce shifts in Ramsey County.