Closing Michigan's Talent Gap (By Creating a Skilled Workforce!)

March 27, 2013 at 1:00 am

Editorial: Creating a skilled work force

Government and business leaders are rightly teaming to close Michigan's talent gap

• By The Detroit News
• 3 Comments

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It's becoming a common refrain in Michigan: Thousands of jobs exist in the state, but there aren't enough skilled workers to fill them. So what to do? From the governor to business leaders, many in the state are offering solutions for both the immediate shortage and long-term picture.

Drawing attention to the problem and starting conversations is a helpful approach. That's what Gov. Rick Snyder sought to do with the Economic Summit he hosted in Detroit last week. 

Snyder has tackled the skills gap since he took office and is working to bring together businesses, educational institutions and workers.

Snyder has often cited that some 60,000 jobs exist despite Michigan's high unemployment rate. The rate hovers around 9 percent — more than 1 percentage point above the national average. That means around 400,000 people are looking for work.

Business Leaders for Michigan, which has a turnaround plan for making Michigan a top state for job and economic growth, recently came out with a report that underscores the current skills shortage in the work force. And it highlights the growing importance of education for future jobs. "A lot of what we found reaffirms the governor's approach," says Kelly Chesney, vice president of marketing for Business Leaders for Michigan.

Chesney says Business Leaders wanted to take a closer look at what's happening with Michigan's job landscape. The group found that in the short term, many workers have adequate education but not necessarily the right skill set for open jobs. Many such jobs currently revolve around information technology and engineering.

According to the study, about half of employers hiring for above-average wage jobs are struggling to find workers with the right skills and experience.

Skill shortages are common after a recession, and Michigan's reviving economy is creating the demand for more people on the job. That's a good problem to have.

Of course, current unemployed workers aren't widgets that can just fit directly into the state's unfilled positions. And businesses that need employees now will likely have to look out of state for the talent they require. But some of the state's recent initiatives to match workers with open jobs seem to be working.

Training programs are springing up around Michigan to prepare people quickly for these openings. Businesses are working with community colleges and other institutions to get individuals ready to step into these jobs. That's a great approach, and it's working around the state — including in Detroit. Business Leaders also agrees with Snyder's regional approach to tackling the skills gap.

Sites like Pure Michigan Talent Connect, which was spearheaded by Snyder and run by the state's Workforce Development Agency and the Michigan Economic Development Corp., offer guidance to current job seekers as well as future ones. It's challenging to predict future job shortages, but websites like this one offer projections as to what the most stable careers will be going forward.

The report also emphasizes how Michigan is behind the national average in attracting out-of-state students to its universities. The more talented young people at state universities, the more that may decide to stay — a prospect that could add millions of dollars to the economy. In coming years, a greater number of jobs will require higher educational attainment. And that includes sectors like manufacturing and agriculture, the study finds.

That sentiment is echoed by education leaders across the state, including the Michigan Department of Education, which is striving to uphold the state's strong Merit Curriculum to prepare students for college or other training.

Businesses go where they can find talent. If Michigan wants to continue growing its economy, then it will have to prepare for the jobs of the future.

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From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130327/OPINION01/303270314#ixzz2Okrq9gOR