By Ryan Hundt
One of my former co-workers always had a knack for knowing all sorts of national days and months, informing our team of such momentous occasions. Whether it’s National Apple Turnover Day (July 5) or National Library Lover’s Month (February), I have made it a part of my routine to take note of all that we have to celebrate as a society, no matter the size and scope of the cause.
So, imagine my excitement when, just a few weeks ago, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution to recognize September 2021 as National Workforce Development Month. Of course, with feelings of enthusiasm come a range of mixed emotions like humility and focus, recognizing the adversity and frustrations experienced by job seekers and employers alike in the face of a global pandemic. But through these challenges, which at times has felt insurmountable, supporting workforce development is the most effective way for us to remain on the path toward economic recovery and long-term resiliency.
The road ahead is still fraught with obstacles. As of this writing, nearly 10 million Americans remain unemployed, and the long-term economic effects of COVID-19 are felt more harshly by women, minorities, and individuals with lower educational attainment. As we work to rebuild our economy in Michigan, the Michigan Works! network plays a critical role in providing quality training and education to the state’s workers, particularly those who have faced significant hardships as a result of the pandemic.
National Workforce Development Month is also a great opportunity to recognize programmatic success stories thanks in part to legislative action and locally controlled, locally-responsive workforce boards who administer these resources. Programs authorized under the bipartisan Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act serve millions of young people and adults and exceed employment targets across all programs. Nationwide, there are more than 550 workforce development boards and 2,500 American Job Centers that work with job seekers and employers across industries ranging from healthcare and information technology to manufacturing and construction.
I started as the new CEO for the Michigan Works! Association about a month ago and I am in awe of the amazing work the Michigan Works! network does across our state to assist job seekers find training and new career opportunities, as well as the assistance provide to employers in helping them find the right talent. And these programs will remain a key component of our workforce development system statewide, thanks in no small part to the advocacy efforts the Michigan Works! Association undertakes every year as the state’s most powerful voice for talent and economic development.
And how appropriate is it that the Association’s 2021 Annual Conference falls in the same month as National Workforce Development Month? I am excited to have joined the Association in time to host our annual event, attended by hundreds of workforce development professionals and key partners every single year. For the second year in a row, we will be hosting the event virtually, and we have a tremendous lineup of speakers, workshops, and real-time networking planned for this year’s attendees.
I am excited to be leading the state’s premier workforce development organization and look forward to working with our members and partners across the state to advance our very important workforce development agenda. Happy National Workforce Development Month!