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The Talent Crunch and Pipeline: State of MI Resources, Opportunities That Can Help

Advocacy News – Aug. 10, 2022

The current and future workforce, talent pipeline and what that means for you, our state’s employers, and Great Lakes State’s long-term economic growth and competitiveness, are top of mind always. That’s why the Michigan Chamber has been working so hard to make sure your voices and needs are heard and at the forefront of public policy and budget discussions. Here are a few of the most recent state of Michigan programs and investment opportunities that are designed to help address the workforce shortages and help both Michiganders and businesses bounce back after the height of COVID-19, grow and thrive.   

So, what’s new? What’s expanded? And what can your business do to harness them to meet your talent needs and grow your talent pipeline? 

  1. Going PRO — There is extraordinary demand for professional trades and skills, including in healthcare, information technology, advanced manufacturing, construction, automotive and more. If you are a business looking to up-skill your employees or build out a certification, skill or career path, Michigan’s Going PRO program is designed to help you get there. Dogged advocacy efforts from the Michigan Chamber and others helped lead to the Michigan Legislature and governor expanding funding for this critical program and help meet growing demand — a total of $55 million in grants will be available to Michigan employers starting Oct. 1. What’s entailed? How does it work? And how can you apply? The Michigan Chamber, in partnership with the Michigan Works! Association, is hosting a free informational session Monday, Sept. 19 beginning at 10 a.m. to help answer these questions and more. Join us to learn how the application process works and how your business can benefit from this opportunity. Register for the webinar today!  
  2. Michigan ReconnectIn an effort to fill high-demand jobs and grow Michigan’s economy and competitiveness, this program provides free tuition to in-district community colleges to earn associate’s degrees or skills certifications or significantly discounted tuition at out-of-district institutions. The Michigan Reconnect program just celebrated over 100,000 applicants, boosting the number of adults with a postsecondary degree to 49%. Applicants who are 25 years or older, have yet to complete a secondary degree (i.e. associate’s or bachelor’s), have lived in Michigan for at least one year and have a high-school diploma or equivalent are eligible for the program. For more information, or how to connect your employees to this opportunity, click here. 
  3. Google Career Certificates — Google and the State of Michigan have teamed-up to provide 500 Michiganders a free Google Career Certificate for in-demand, high-growth jobs, no experience required. Google will provide certificates for digital marketing and e-commerce, IT support, data analytics, project management and UX design. The self-guided, at-your-own-pace program, typically takes about three to six months to complete and, once completed, participants are connected with over 150 companies looking to hire for these credentials, including Deloitte, Ford, Verizon, Walmart and Google. Learn more about this opportunity. 

And don’t forget to check out the Michigan Chamber’s latest member and business resource EmergeSkilled, a proven, online tool that helps connect employers with entry-level talent while building a talent pipeline.

For questions or more information, please contact Leah Robinson at lrobinson@michamber.com. 

Advocacy News – Aug. 10, 2022

The current and future workforce, talent pipeline and what that means for you, our state’s employers, and Great Lakes State’s long-term economic growth and competitiveness, are top of mind always. That’s why the Michigan Chamber has been working so hard to make sure your voices and needs are heard and at the forefront of public policy and budget discussions. Here are a few of the most recent state of Michigan programs and investment opportunities that are designed to help address the workforce shortages and help both Michiganders and businesses bounce back after the height of COVID-19, grow and thrive.   

So, what’s new? What’s expanded? And what can your business do to harness them to meet your talent needs and grow your talent pipeline? 

  1. Going PRO — There is extraordinary demand for professional trades and skills, including in healthcare, information technology, advanced manufacturing, construction, automotive and more. If you are a business looking to up-skill your employees or build out a certification, skill or career path, Michigan’s Going PRO program is designed to help you get there. Dogged advocacy efforts from the Michigan Chamber and others helped lead to the Michigan Legislature and governor expanding funding for this critical program and help meet growing demand — a total of $55 million in grants will be available to Michigan employers starting Oct. 1. What’s entailed? How does it work? And how can you apply? The Michigan Chamber, in partnership with the Michigan Works! Association, is hosting a free informational session Monday, Sept. 19 beginning at 10 a.m. to help answer these questions and more. Join us to learn how the application process works and how your business can benefit from this opportunity. Register for the webinar today!  
  2. Michigan ReconnectIn an effort to fill high-demand jobs and grow Michigan’s economy and competitiveness, this program provides free tuition to in-district community colleges to earn associate’s degrees or skills certifications or significantly discounted tuition at out-of-district institutions. The Michigan Reconnect program just celebrated over 100,000 applicants, boosting the number of adults with a postsecondary degree to 49%. Applicants who are 25 years or older, have yet to complete a secondary degree (i.e. associate’s or bachelor’s), have lived in Michigan for at least one year and have a high-school diploma or equivalent are eligible for the program. For more information, or how to connect your employees to this opportunity, click here. 
  3. Google Career Certificates — Google and the State of Michigan have teamed-up to provide 500 Michiganders a free Google Career Certificate for in-demand, high-growth jobs, no experience required. Google will provide certificates for digital marketing and e-commerce, IT support, data analytics, project management and UX design. The self-guided, at-your-own-pace program, typically takes about three to six months to complete and, once completed, participants are connected with over 150 companies looking to hire for these credentials, including Deloitte, Ford, Verizon, Walmart and Google. Learn more about this opportunity. 

And don’t forget to check out the Michigan Chamber’s latest member and business resource EmergeSkilled, a proven, online tool that helps connect employers with entry-level talent while building a talent pipeline.

For questions or more information, please contact Leah Robinson at lrobinson@michamber.com.