First-Ever Statewide Workforce Plan makes impact across Michigan one year after launch

Education opportunities, good-paying jobs and in-demand careers on the rise

LANSING, Mich. — Michigan’s workforce system is #1 in the nation for adult credential attainment, reports the highest earnings in the country for individuals with disabilities, is #3 for helping adults get employed and is #4 in active registered apprenticeships. Good-paying jobs, in-demand careers and educational opportunities are on the rise nearly one year after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer released the first-ever Michigan Statewide Workforce Plan, a comprehensive roadmap with ambitious strategies to ensure all Michiganders have the skills, opportunities and support they need to make it in Michigan. 

“We’re taking action to make Michigan the best state to find a good job, do good work, and earn a good living,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “As we celebrate the one-year anniversary of our Statewide Workforce Plan, let’s double down on what we’ve done to become the #1 state for adult credential attainment, the top earning state for individuals with disabilities, the #3 state for helping adults get employed and the #4 state for active registered apprenticeships. We believe in every person’s potential and will keep lowering the cost of job training and higher education so everyone can chase a brighter, better future for themselves and their family.”

The plan includes three core pillars: help more Michiganders earn skills certificates or degrees, increase opportunities to grow the middle class and grow businesses to make Michigan a top 10 state for labor force participation. To communicate the goals and strategies of the three pillars and build a collaborative network, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity met with all 16 Michigan Works! Agencies and held roundtable discussions with workforce stakeholders in every region of the state.

“Building a strong workforce is essential to growing Michigan’s middle class and ensuring everyone has the tools and resources they need to not just get by but live happy and successful lives,” said Susan Corbin, LEO Director. “We are doing everything we can to ensure the plan is put into action and does not simply sit on a shelf. Our workforce is on the rise and that is a testament to the hard work of many partners across the state.”

Helping More Michiganders Earn a Skills Certificate or Degree

From preschool to postsecondary to prosperity, Michigan has a strong network of local, regional and state partners helping children and students achieve lifelong success. In addition to the state’s above-mentioned national rankings in adult credential attainment and registered apprenticeships; Michigan’s educational attainment rate has increased from 45% in 2019 to 51.8% in 2024. This year, we've supported nearly 60,000 students with the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, saving families up to $5,500 per year – including 18,000 students enrolled at a community college at low or no cost through the Community College Guarantee. Additionally, over 207,000 Michigan adults have taken their first step toward earning a skill certificate or degree through applying to Michigan Reconnect – including 35,000 ages 21-24 who applied during the program’s temporary expansion. 

“MiLEAP is committed to expanding access to postsecondary education and removing barriers so more Michiganders can earn the skills and credentials needed to secure a good-paying job,” said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, MiLEAP Director. “Programs like the Michigan Achievement Scholarship and Michigan Reconnect are opening doors for students to achieve long-term career success while strengthening our workforce and economy. Investing in education ensures Michigan’s businesses, communities and families thrive for years to come.”

Making Michigan a Top 10 State for Labor Force Participation

According to the plan, for Michigan to achieve quality job growth, it is crucial to prioritize support for business competitiveness, expansion and talent development. In 2024, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation established a $60 million Innovation Fund to provide early-stage capital to startups. The MEDC’s Talent Action Team connected 1,748 people directly into good-paying high-tech roles and trained an additional 1,291 workers. LEO served more than 9,500 businesses across the state, helping them recruit talent and increase their competitiveness, and served more than 336,000 Michiganders with workforce development support, the most of any state in the Midwest.

“The Michigan Statewide Workforce Plan has contributed to the state’s growing economic momentum by focusing on Michigan’s #1 asset, its people,” said Quentin L. Messer, Jr, MEDC CEO. “The Michigan Statewide Workforce Plan complements the state’s ‘Make It In Michigan’ economic development strategy focused on attracting and developing People, cultivating and revitalizing Places and competing for and winning Projects. The Workforce Plan is an excellent roadmap for the private and public sectors to invest in our talent that will make it easier to create jobs and opportunities in every corner of the state. While work remains, the Michigan Statewide Workforce Plan is a living, market-responsive strategy that will help more people make it in Michigan.”

Increasing Opportunities that Grow the Middle Class

The plan outlines strategies to grow Michigan’s middle class by removing barriers to education, employment and quality of life so that by the end of 2027, 75,000 households have moved into the middle class. In addition to the state’s above-mentioned national rankings regarding earnings for individuals with disabilities and helping adults get employed; in the past year, nearly 20,000 housing units were made available across the state and the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office connected 17,562 homes to broadband. More than 59,000 students were enrolled in PreK for All, saving families an estimated $10,000 a year in childcare costs and the Going PRO Talent Fund awarded $60.5 million to businesses, supporting the training of over 38,000 workers. 

“Helping Michigan build a stronger talent pool with expanded career opportunities is a job for all of us,” said Jeff Donofrio, Business Leaders for Michigan President and CEO and Michigan Workforce Development Board Chair. “It’s important that the workforce system continue to set clear goals and strategies that assure we are solving talent gaps for employers and making it easy to grow jobs and businesses in our state.”

Making a Real Impact in Communities

The Michigan Statewide Workforce Development Plan outlines a collaborative vision where business, labor, education institutions, state departments and community organizations work together to ensure all Michiganders have access to the opportunities, training and support they need to achieve success. Across Michigan, workforce development organizations are feeling the positive impacts of the plan.

"The Michigan Works! network is proud to be a key partner in the implementation of the Michigan Statewide Workforce Plan, ensuring that job seekers and employers across the state have access to the resources they need to succeed," said Ryan Hundt, Michigan Works! Association CEO. "Through strong local workforce boards and innovative training programs, we are breaking down barriers to employment, strengthening Michigan’s talent pipeline, and fostering economic mobility.”

"Michigan's community colleges are proud to be key partners in the Statewide Workforce Plan, helping Michiganders gain the skills they need and meeting the evolving needs of employers,” said Brandy Johnson, Michigan Community College Association President. “Through programs like Michigan Reconnect and the Community College Guarantee, we’re expanding access to affordable, high-quality education and opening doors to in-demand careers. Our colleges are equipping students with valuable credentials while driving local economic growth and strengthening communities. This plan reflects the power of collaboration and the critical role of community colleges in building a stronger Michigan."

"The Statewide Workforce Plan is strengthening Michigan’s construction trades by ensuring we have the skilled workforce needed to meet industry demands,” said Steve Claywell, Vice Chair of the Michigan Workforce Development Board and President of the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council. “Through strong partnerships with labor, employers, and training programs, we’re expanding opportunities for workers and creating pathways to good-paying, long-term careers in the trades.”

The Michigan Statewide Workforce Plan ties into LEO’s All-Access Michigan approach, highlighting LEO’s critical role in the development and implementation of broad-stroke strategies to drive individual economic success and growth for the state. Visit Michigan.gov/AllAccess for resources available to businesses and workers.

Learn more about the Statewide Workforce Plan and view a summary of the progress and impact highlights.