Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Tribal Employment Rights and On-the-Job Training Partnership

Despite national unemployment levels dropping to all-time lows, unemployment on Indian reservations is exceedingly high at 25 to 30 percent, depending on location. To address this challenge, the Minnesota Department of Transportation introduced a groundbreaking pilot program across two $21 million road resurfacing projects on two reservations. Through the initiative, 10 individuals from those reservations received training in construction skills, such as flagging, heavy equipment and commercial vehicle operation. Prioritizing equity, Minnesota DOT helped bring more tribal citizens into the road construction workforce – enabling tribal nations to lower their unemployment rate while training members for future employment.