With energy related jobs expected to grow by at least 6-percent over the next eight years, the crew at Youth Solutions, Inc. operated by Kinexus is helping students enrolled in the Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates program get a distinct advantage in the chase for those jobs and potential careers.
Kinexus tells us that hundreds of students across Michigan took part in Careers in Energy Week last week, including more than 225 students involved in the Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates (JMG) program across the Great Lakes State.
Now in its fifth year, Careers in Energy Week, planned by the collaborative Michigan Energy Workforce Development Consortium (MEWDC), provides hands-on opportunities for students to learn about career possibilities and career ladders in a growing industry. More than 108,000 Michigan residents hold energy-related jobs today, and the Michigan Workforce Development Agency estimates energy jobs will grow by 6-percent through 2026.
DTE Energy, Consumers Energy, Lansing Board of Water and Light, Entergy Corporation, as well as the MIAT College of Technology all provided opportunities for JMG students over the course of the past week.
Jan Ennis is Senior Director of Engagement for Benton Harbor-based Youth Solutions, Inc, the non-profit agency that runs Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates. Ennis says, “We had more than 225 JMG students participate from schools in Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids, River Rouge, Plymouth, and Southwest Michigan and we felt it was important to get feedback from students about the impact of the week.”
Significantly, Ennis notes, “About 25-percent of students surveyed were considering a career in energy before taking part in Energy Week,” and adds, “But afterward, a staggering 87-percent of students are now considering a career in the industry.” That’s powerful, to say the least.
It was a testament to the power of connecting industry and students. Ennis contends, “As a dropout prevention and career exploration program with partnerships across the state, we have found the more you make things real for kids, the better.”
Tracy DiSanto is Manager of Workforce Planning & Analytics at DTE Energy and a co-chair of the MEWDC. DiSanto says, “This is exactly the kind of results we were looking for as the high demand for skilled trades professionals in Michigan’s energy sector continues.” DiSanto adds, “We have to attract talent to power Michigan’s future, so we are active in promoting many different career paths and in partnering with organizations who represent the next generation of talent.”
During the week, students from Southeast Career Pathways in Grand Rapids toured DTE’s Wealthy Station where they gained first-hand knowledge of what it takes to begin a career in the energy sector. Grand Rapids Public Schools Superintendent Teresa Weatherall Neal says, “Grand Rapids Public Schools brought the JMG program to Southeast Career Pathways for reasons like Careers in Energy Week. Our students need exposure to careers like the ones provided during Careers in Energy Week. Not only does the JMG program help bring these opportunities to life, it also teaches students what it means to be work-ready so they can seize upon these career opportunities when they complete their secondary education.”
Youth Solutions, Inc. is a premiere youth opportunity organization. Their leading program, Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates, delivers employability and education services to more than 3,000 young people across 40+ Michigan cities. For more information about Youth Solutions, Inc. or to become a partner, you can visit online at www.ouryouthsolutions.org, follow along on Twitter at JobsforMIGrads, or “like” them on Facebook at JobsforMichiganGraduates.
