Commentary: Federal change would worsen Michigan's talent crisis; we can fight back

While attending the Mackinac Policy Conference this year, talent and workforce were at the forefront of almost every discussion on the island. More than two years after a global pandemic forced businesses to drastically rethink talent strategies, employers are running out of creative solutions to address labor shortages. I heard the job creators in our state say over and over they desperately want politicians, government officials, educators and community leaders to focus on crafting relevant solutions to address the growing workforce challenges we face.

But there are changes being proposed by federal rule makers that would do the exact opposite. Michigan's ability to deliver substantive solutions is at serious risk as a result of newly proposed federal regulations that would decimate accessibility and human-power to deliver career support to approximately 675,000 job seekers annually, and to provide recruiting, retention and more talent attraction support to 32,000 businesses each year.

The U.S. Department of Labor is proposing a new "rule" — a change in the way programs are currently operated — for the delivery of these essential workforce services under the Wagner-Peyser Act. It wants these services to be provided by state civil service employees as opposed to the current model where local Michigan Works! staff are able to address the needs of companies and job seekers in their own communities.