If I have said it once, I have said it a thousand times . . . this past year has been like none other! The Michigan Works! network has always had a close partnership with the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA), but over the past year the network greatly strengthened that long-standing partnership with UIA by assisting with over 1.25 million calls where they helped residents file claims, navigate accounts, and answer questions. All this hard work produced very positive results for hundreds of thousands of Michiganders and these accomplishments represent the work the network did over and above the career and training services they offer to Michigan residents and the assistance they offer employers with their talent pipelines.
With the increase in vaccination availability and a shift toward economic recovery, the Michigan Works! network has returned to its core mission of getting Michigan residents trained, educated, and back to work. Michigan Works! has been providing, and continues to provide, services to Michigan job seekers and employers virtually, by telephone, and by appointment over the course of the pandemic.
The pandemic has greatly increased the number of individuals needing assistance with overcoming barriers to employment so they can achieve their career goals. Some of these barriers include transportation, housing, childcare, food, technology, and health care. Michigan Works! helps job seekers find supportive services to remove these barriers and then works with them to help them find employment.
As the unemployment rate continues to drop, the pre-pandemic economy is beginning to emerge. Michigan Works! is uniquely positioned to help rebuild Michigan’s economy due to the network’s access to apprenticeships and connections to employers across the state. Many employers are experiencing an increased and urgent need for employees in areas such as industrial, skilled trades, and administrative services.
Reskilling and increased training are going to play an important role in the state, and nation’s, economic recovery. Supply chains and business models have been severely disrupted and employers are now forced to pivot and reallocate their workers into unfamiliar roles. To help employers meet their evolving needs, the Michigan Works! network has increased its training offerings for job seekers in areas such as transportation, retail, robotics technicians, and CNC machine operations, just to name a few.
Through the demand-driven approach, Michigan Works! partners with local employers, educators, economic developers, and community organizations to identify workforce needs and skills gaps to create a qualified workforce that addresses each region’s current and future talent needs, while, at the same time, fueling the state’s economic future. As the economy recovers, the Michigan Works! network is here connecting job seekers with employers to fill their talent needs.
I am very proud of the work the Michigan Works! network does every day to assist Michigan job seekers and employers. Michigan Works! is your go-to source for workforce development during the economic recovery!
Luann Dunsford, CEO, Michigan Works! Association