To accelerate women’s labor force participation in high wage careers, the Michigan Women’s Commission (MWC) convened Pathways to High Wage Careers Roundtables statewide, promoting high wage, high demand career pathways for women and engaging employers in identifying and addressing the barriers that limit women’s participation and advancement in the workforce. This report shares what the MWC learned from these conversations — and offers clear, actionable recommendations to ensure more Michigan women can access, enter, and thrive in high wage careers.
This report aims to highlight key factors that contribute to challenges women in the workforce face. Discrepancies in average pay, hours worked, and labor force participation are just some of the areas highlighted. This report is an updated version of the 2021 Women in the Michigan Workforce report with an expanded focus on education, training, and regional information. In addition, the current report uses different age groupings and calculations, so it is not directly comparable to the 2021 report.
MI FARE: Fostering Access, Rights and Equity in Michigan is an initiative to help women understand and access their rights, public benefits, and other opportunities for economic security and prosperity.
From Fall 2019 until the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled in-person events in Spring 2020, the Michigan Women’s Commission and Governor Whitmer held conversations with women around the state to hear what they believe are the most pressing issues they face. The women overwhelmingly cited economic security issues as their top concerns. Pay equity, affordable and accessible child care, and a pathway to higher paying jobs were consistently prioritized—and this was before the pandemic put a glaring spotlight on these issues. The Commission used these Gender Equity Conversations to craft our current initiatives. View the summaries from our Community Conversations.
The Michigan Women's Commission meets twice a year at locations throughout Michigan. Join us! We'd love to meet you!
The Michigan Women's Commission will hold its next public meetings on October 22, 2024 (location to be determined), and April 15, 2025 (location to be determined). Meeting details and information about how to participate will be posted at least ten days in advance of each meeting.
If you want to attend an in-person meeting and need accommodations to do so, please contact the Michigan Relay Center at (800) 649-3777 or email LEO-MIWomensComm@michigan.gov.
FY24, FY25 Public Meetings Notice
FY25 April Public Meeting Notice
FY25 April Public Meeting Agenda
Annual Reports
MWC Annual Report 2020
MWC Annual Report 2021
MWC Annual Report 2022
MWC Annual Report 2023
MWC Annual Report 2024
Public Meeting Minutes
Meeting Minutes - April 12, 2022
Meeting Minutes - August 9, 2022
Meeting Minutes - October 18, 2022
Meeting Minutes - April 18, 2023
Meeting Minutes - September 19, 2023
Meeting Minutes - April 16, 2024 (DRAFT)
Meeting Minutes - October 22, 2024 (DRAFT)
Meeting Minutes - April 15, 2025 (DRAFT)
Take a look at past newsletters sent to our stakeholders.
Book a Commissioner or staff member to speak at your event.
