Working to assure that everyone in Michigan has access to the tools and resources they need for exploration of high-demand, high wage career pathways including advanced manufacturing, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has declared December to be Career Exploration & Awareness Month in the Great Lakes State.
In a bid to recognize the state’s urgent and growing need for talent, as well as the programs and services in place to help and engage residents in employment, training and educational opportunities, Governor Whitmer is encouraging people to explore the many career pathways available to them this month.
The governor says, “We want to make sure all Michiganders have access to the tools and resources they need for career exploration at any stage in life,” adding, “Whether you’re a young student, just launching your career, re-entering the workforce, or considering a change to your current profession, there are many resources at your disposal to help prepare you for high-demand, high-wage career pathways in Michigan.”
Students, their parents and school counselors are encouraged to check out the Michigan Career and Education Pathfinder site at this link https://pathfinder.mitalent.org/#/home to explore careers and identify educational opportunities throughout the state. Pathfinder helps you make informed choices about educational and career options and plans to reach your goals. The free tool uses labor market information, wage data and other metrics to best match users and their skills with career paths and jobs.
To further dive into career exploration, the Going PRO in Michigan website https://www.going-pro.com/ offers Michigan residents a platform to explore careers with more than 545,000 openings through 2026 in the fields of manufacturing, automotive, IT, health care and construction. Going PRO identifies the training and education required for in-demand careers, shares current job openings, and highlights a day in the life of each profession to paint a clear picture of what that career looks like.
Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) Acting Director Susan Corbin says, “We are committed to making sure every Michigander has an equal and successful pathway to high-quality, high-paying, in-demand careers,” and adds, “By providing the right tools, and encouraging more Michiganders to explore different careers, we can help prepare every Michigander for a rewarding career path and bigger paychecks.”
LEO works closely with the Michigan Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, within the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget, to highlight career and labor trends in the state. Those include Michigan’s Hot 50 report, which covers high-demand, high-wage careers that show a favorable mix of long-term job growth, projected annual job openings, and median wages which can be found here: Hot50_Statewide_2028-1; Michigan’s Career Outlook report, which provides multiple lists of in-demand occupations by education and training requirements and can be found here: CareerOutlook_Statewide_2028-1; and Regional Career Outlook reports, which provides a breakdown of career outlook data in each of the state’s 10 regions.
Career Exploration and Awareness Month also ties into Gov. Whitmer’s Sixty by 30 goal, which aims to increase the percentage of adults in the state with a post-secondary degree or credential by the year 2030. Michigan residents interested in education beyond high-school to gain the skills they need for rewarding careers are encouraged to explore free education and training resources like Skills to Work, https://www.michigan.gov/leo/0,5863,7-336-78421_99824—,00.html Futures for Frontliners, https://www.michigan.gov/frontliners and the upcoming 2021 Michigan Reconnect program that will provide free tuition to Michiganders age 25+.
To view the Governor’s proclamation, click the link below:
