The Challenge
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) needed to enhance and update the state’s online labor exchange, replacing the aging MinnesotaWorks.net platform that had served job seekers and employers since 2007. While innovative when it launched, the legacy system had become difficult to maintain, lacked modern user experience capabilities, and no longer met the expectations of today’s mobile-first workforce. DEED’s vision was to create a more accessible, intuitive, and scalable platform that would better connect Minnesotans with employment opportunities while also meeting regulatory requirements for providing a labor exchange. The new platform needed to support thousands of job listings, workforce development resources, training opportunities, employer services, and integrations across Minnesota’s broader CareerForce ecosystem. It also required extensive stakeholder engagement, change management, and user adoption planning to ensure a smooth transition for job seekers, employers, and workforce professionals statewide.
Our Approach
Working alongside DEED, GovWebworks helped develop a modern digital platform centered on user needs and long-term sustainability. Through extensive stakeholder collaboration, user feedback, and iterative design and development, the team helped transform the state’s labor exchange into a more accessible and user-friendly experience. The platform was designed to support both job seekers and employers, while integrating seamlessly with Minnesota’s workforce development programs and resources. CareerForce.MN.gov’s new platform prioritizes mobile accessibility, streamlined navigation, and self-service tools that make it easier for users to find jobs, build resumes, discover training opportunities, and connect with workforce services. For employers, the system enables submission of upcoming networking events that are displayed to job seekers through an event search feature. Throughout the project, the team focused on creating a scalable foundation that would support future enhancements funded through Minnesota’s workforce digital transformation initiative.
The Result
In June 2026, DEED officially promoted the newly enhanced CareerForce.MN.gov as Minnesota’s new online labor exchange, replacing MinnesotaWorks.net after more than two years of planning, development, stakeholder engagement, and training. The updated platform provides job seekers with access to thousands of opportunities from vetted Minnesota employers, personalized job search tools, resume-building capabilities, workshop and appointment registration, and training resources—all through a modern, mobile-friendly experience. The search feature finds jobs posted by employers, who have free job posting services and access to a statewide audience of job seekers, supported by a network of workforce professionals dedicated to connecting talent with opportunity. The result is a modernized workforce platform that strengthens Minnesota’s employment ecosystem, improves access to career resources, and provides a flexible foundation for continued innovation and enhancement in the years ahead.
