July 02, 2010
July 2, 2010
In radio address, governor says 75 percent of those who've completed training have obtained or retained jobs
LANSING - In her weekly radio address, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said that No Worker Left Behind - Michigan's job-training program - is producing the results envisioned when it was created three years ago.
"Since 2007, almost 132,000 people have enrolled in No Worker Left Behind, and approximately 58,000 have completed their training," Granholm said. "And of those 58,000, 75 percent have either obtained or retained jobs."
"Fifty-nine percent of the workers who were unemployed or underemployed when they entered the program found new jobs despite double-digit unemployment rates across the state," the governor continued. "That's an amazing statistic, especially when you consider there was a recently issued report from Rutgers University showing that nationwide, only 21 percent of those who were unemployed and looking for work had found a job."
"The success of No Worker Left Behind is tempered by the fact that it's facing a funding crisis," Granholm said. "But even with limited funding, No Worker Left Behind will help to train approximately 60,000 participants in the coming year."
The governor noted that funds available for job training vary among the different Michigan Works! agencies around the state.
"So if you're interested in job training, check with your local Michigan Works! agency to see what opportunities are available," Granholm said. "In the meantime, my administration and Michigan's congressional delegation will continue to fight for changes in how federal workforce funds are distributed to the states to make sure we get our fair share."
"Michigan's No Worker Left Behind program is a national model for job training," Granholm said. "Despite funding challenges from the federal government, the program will continue training workers for 21st century jobs and will help us transition to the new Michigan economy."
The governor's weekly radio address is released each Friday and may be heard on broadcast stations across the state. The address is available for download on the governor's Web site at www.michigan.gov/gov together with a clip of the quote above. The radio address also is available as a podcast on the Web site as well as on iTunes and via RSS feed for general distribution to personal MP3 players and home computers. Links to the audio files and text of today's address follow.
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
Radio Address - NWLB
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov256Full_326559_7.mp3
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov256Edit_326560_7.mp3
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov256Quote_326562_7.mp3
Hello, this is Governor Jennifer Granholm.
Michigan's job-training program - No Worker Left Behind - is producing the results we envisioned when we created it three years ago - and more.
People who are enrolled in No Worker Left Behind train for jobs in high demand and in emerging industries. Qualifying participants are eligible for two years of free tuition up to $10,000 at any Michigan community college or university or other approved training program.
Most people who enroll in No Worker Left Behind are either unemployed or underemployed workers seeking new jobs or employed workers being retrained so they can keep their jobs.
Since 2007, almost 132,000 people have enrolled in No Worker Left Behind, and approximately 58,000 have completed their training. And of those 58,000, 75 percent have either obtained or retained jobs.
And 59 percent of the workers who were unemployed or underemployed when they entered the program found new jobs despite double-digit unemployment rates across the state. Fifty-nine percent found new jobs.
Now that's an amazing statistic, especially when you consider there was a recently issued report from Rutgers University showing that nationwide, only 21 percent of those who were unemployed, looking for work, had found a job. Twenty-one percent nationwide, but 59 percent found new jobs in Michigan - that's amazing.
The success of No Worker Left Behind is tempered by the fact that it's facing a funding crisis. A loss of federal funds means a very limited number of new enrollees can be accepted into the program. But even with limited funding, No Worker Left Behind will help to train approximately 60,000 participants in the coming year.
But funding levels vary among the different Michigan Works! agencies around the state. So if you're interested in job training, check with your local Michigan Works! agency to see what opportunities are available.
In the meantime, my administration and Michigan's congressional delegation will continue to fight for changes in how federal workforce funds are distributed to the states to make sure we get our fair share.
Michigan's No Worker Left Behind program is a national model for job training. Despite funding challenges from the federal government, the program will continue training workers for 21st century jobs, and will help us transition to the new Michigan economy.
Thank you for listening.
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