3-20-2024 3:58pm

Morris County Launches "Connect to Morris 2.0" to Grow Local Employment Landscape

Enhanced Online Portal Aims to Bridge Gap Between Top Employers and Talent in Morris County.

Morris County, NJ, has unveiled "Connect to Morris 2.0," an innovative online job platform designed to streamline the hiring process and facilitate connections between employers and job seekers in the region. This enhanced portal not only aims to simplify recruitment but also provides a comprehensive suite of resources for employers, job seekers, students, educational institutions, and nonprofits.

Despite boasting an unemployment rate of 4.2 percent, lower than New Jersey’s 5.2% average, Morris County businesses continue to encounter challenges in attracting and retaining talent, a challenge exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. "Connect to Morris 2.0" emerges as a strategic response to these hurdles, offering a robust platform for talent acquisition and resource sharing.

Commissioner Director Christine Myers lauded the platform, noting Morris County's status as a prime location for business and its recognition as one of the best places to live, work, and raise a family.

"Our businesses are the backbone of our economy, so it’s essential they have the tools like Connect to Morris to recruit top talent not just within our county borders, but outside as well," Myers stated, underscoring the significance of the platform in supporting the local economy.

Connect to Morris will operate jointly with Morris@Work, an employer-specific program relaunched last fall under a partnership between the Morris County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) and the Morris County Economic Development Alliance (Alliance).

The goal of Morris@Work was to provide solutions and support for employers to increase success in the job market. By joining Connect to Morris with Morris@Work, a broader community may now be served by leveraging the connections and capabilities of both the MCEDC and the Alliance.

Key insights from the 2023 Morris County Business Roundtables highlight the urgent need for improved interpersonal communication skills among applicants, the challenge of finding qualified candidates, and a gap in engagement with local training and workforce development groups. Additionally, the reliance on national job boards indicates a significant opportunity for a localized talent acquisition strategy, which "Connect to Morris 2.0" seeks to provide.

"The feedback from these roundtables has been instrumental in shaping solutions that allow us to compete in the marketplace more effectively so we can develop innovative programs that drive business attraction, expansion, and retention,” said Meghan Hunscher, President & CEO of the MCCC and the MCEDC.

Survey findings from the 2023 Roundtables revealed:

75% of organizations noted a lack of interpersonal communication skills among applicants.
50% of organizations struggled to find what they considered to be qualified applicants.
35% of organizations did not engage with local educational or workforce development groups for training.
60% of respondents primarily used Indeed and LinkedIn for talent sourcing, signaling a need for a more localized talent acquisition strategy.

"Connect to Morris represents our commitment to leveraging technology for community growth. This platform is more than just a job board: it's a catalyst for meaningful connections between local businesses, nonprofits, education, and the talent within our county," Craig Schlosser, President & CEO of the Alliance and Tourism Bureau, remarked on the platform's potential to foster community development and growth.

The platform offers an array of features, including job searches integrated with the National Labor Exchange, access to local resources and training programs, and the ability for employers and nonprofit organizations to post job opportunities, internships, and volunteer positions.

As Morris County approaches the 250th Anniversary of America's founding, "Connect to Morris 2.0" stands as a testament to the community's forward-thinking approach to workforce development and its commitment to creating a thriving, connected local economy.