NE North Dakota News

The University of North Dakota (UND) is focusing efforts on addressing the state's workforce shortage, an issue identified as one of the most severe in the country. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Worker Shortage Index, North Dakota has only 47 available workers for every 100 open jobs, ranking it just behind South Dakota in terms of severity.

Governor Kelly Armstrong campaigned on tackling this workforce challenge, which remains a leading concern for state lawmakers. UND has outlined several initiatives aimed at increasing the number and preparedness of graduates in critical fields.

New facilities such as the STEM Complex and a proposed Health Professions Collaborative Facility are intended to boost both graduation rates and job readiness among students entering essential sectors. UND’s online programs also play a role by providing distance learning opportunities that help retain talent within North Dakota while attracting new students from outside the state.

UND is also working to increase local enrollment in medical education through its School of Medicine & Health Sciences’ ND85 initiative, which aims to have 85 percent of its physician and physician-assistant program enrollees be residents of North Dakota.

"UND is on the case. While North Dakota’s workforce shortage is serious, it’s also the kind of problem that UND can and will help solve," said Tom Dennis, editor at UND Today.

"The North Dakota magnet of online education. UND’s online programs keep North Dakotans rooted and thriving in-state, while drawing people and positive attention from far and wide."

"STEM U: New buildings promise to engineer student success. How UND’s STEM Complex and proposed Health Professions Collaborative Facility will grow key components of the state’s workforce."

"STEM U: How UND educates the workforce of the future.Workforce preparation takes place in labs, classrooms and the Alaskan Arctic, among other locations across UND and beyond."

"Growing our own physicians and physician assistants. With ND85, UND hopes to raise the number of North Dakota residents enrolled in M.D., P.A. programs at its School of Medicine & Health Sciences."

These steps reflect a broader strategy by university leadership to respond proactively to demographic challenges facing both campus enrollment numbers and statewide labor demands over the next decade.