Issue Position: The Economy/Jobs

Issue Position

Issue Position: The Economy/Jobs

For too long, North Dakota has been known as a low wage state. Even today, with more jobs than people to fill them, many North Dakotans are being left behind. We don't benefit from having thousands of unfilled jobs at wages so low that either nobody wants them, or those who do take them have to take a second or third job just to make ends meet. We need the kind of good jobs that can support a family.

As Governor I will:

* Move our economic development strategy from one of seeking low wage jobs to one of seeking high wage jobs.

The current administration uses North Dakota's low wage status as a selling point to bring jobs here. So is it any surprise that the new jobs we end up with are just more low-wage jobs? I will break this cycle by focusing our economic development strategy on attracting high-wage jobs in areas like new energy, agricultural science, and technology.

* Rekindle our rural communities through emphasis on renewable energy and telecommuting.

The global economy is shifting rapidly. With the right leadership, rural North Dakota can see great benefit from this shift. The future will bring jobs at wind farms and ethanol plants. It will also provide the tools to perform knowledge work from any location with an Internet and phone connection. I will make sure North Dakota gets its share of both of these opportunities.

* Rebuild our dwindling workforce.

I am proposing a college tuition reimbursement plan that would reward graduates who choose to stay and work in the state. This gives more young people the chance to attain the education and skills we need in our workforce, and offers an extra reward to those who choose to invest these skills at home by becoming part of North Dakota's workforce.

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