At a time and in a place where skilled tradesmen are in ever-increasing demand, the change agents at Kinexus of Benton Harbor are doing everything in their power to close the gap through their Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates student program. In fact, 200 of those students from Benton Harbor, Lansing, Flint, Kalamazoo and Detroit participated in an event last week called Going PRO: Careers in Construction Trades Week.
The week-long Going PRO event is offered in partnership with the State of Michigan’s Talent Investment Agency and Construction Trades’ employers from across the state. The purpose of the event is to expose JMG students to construction trades careers through a series of interactive talent tours, labor market presentations, and industry speakers.
Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates envisions a Michigan where all youth are educated, employed, and career bound. Connecting youth to education and in-demand careers is vital to this vision in ensuring Michigan employers have access to a robust talent pipeline. Within the construction industry, there are 16,320 new jobs projected in the construction industry by the year 2024. The new Going PRO campaign seeks to expose students to these high growth careers through awareness opportunities, such as Construction Trades Week.
The capstone event to the Construction Trades Week occurred when JMG students attended the 10th Annual Michigan Construction Career Days 2017, hosted at the Operating Engineers Local 324 Training and Education Center in Howell, Michigan.
JMG students, along with approximately 2,000 students from schools across the state, had the chance to see, feel, and experience construction work up-close, using real tools, equipment and materials with construction professionals. Students also heard directly from representatives of thirteen construction trades fields who provided critical insights to entering the construction industry and having an in-demand and sustainable career.
Sammie Lukaskiewicz is Deputy Director of Marketing and Strategy for Michigan Talent and Economic Development (TED). Lukaskiewicz says, “Talking to students and helping to create awareness for developing the next generation of construction trades workforce is an integral part of the Going PRO campaign. We’re working hard to do our part to excite and help build the next level of talent that will build Michigan.”
Kristin Harrington, who serves as Executive Director of Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates through Kinexus, also notes, “Changing Michigan’s education and employment statistics requires a collective statewide effort focused on ensuring young people win. Events like this and our ongoing partnership with the Talent Investment Agency is a culmination of that collective effort. We could not be more grateful to the volunteers, staff, and training providers who recognize our youth need to be connected to meaningful careers like those in construction trades.”
Alayah, a JMG student from Flint, was energized by the experience saying, “Before this event I was not even aware of all the many jobs associated with this field. I learned a lot and it was really fun being able do some hands-on activities.”
To address the growing skills gap in critical industries, the Going PRO campaign focuses on construction trades, healthcare, information technology, automotive, and advanced manufacturing. By 2024 these professional trades will account for more than 500,000 jobs in Michigan’s economy. By partnering with the Talent Investment Agency through events such as Going PRO: Careers in Construction Trades Week, JMG seeks to ensure youth are career bound while building a youth talent pipeline to meet industry demands.
The Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates concept is a program of Youth Solutions, Inc., a premiere youth opportunity non-profit organization delivering employment and education services to over 2,200 young people across more than 35 Michigan cities.
