National Career Development Month: A Reminder That Michigan Must Invest in Its Workforce
November’s National Career Development Month offers more than a chance to highlight career pathways—it’s an opportunity for Michigan to confront a deeper truth: our state must invest more boldly and consistently in workforce development if we intend to compete in a rapidly changing economy.
A new report issued this week by Business Leaders for Michigan paints a clear picture of our challenge:
Michigan ranks 50th in household income growth over the last 25 years.
High-wage professional service jobs have grown 35% nationally, yet Michigan’s growth has been essentially flat for two decades.
Only 46% of Michigan’s STEM graduates remain in-state after earning their degrees.
These are not problems solved by individual effort alone—they are symptoms of a state that has underinvested in talent development, talent retention, and talent attraction for too long.
Michigan’s Workforce Challenge Is Structural—And Fixable
The BLM report is unambiguous: Michigan must strengthen its talent pipeline to drive income growth and rebuild competitiveness. That requires:
Modernizing and scaling career and technical education to meet real employer demand.
Expanding apprenticeship and training pipelines that connect residents to high-wage, high-demand jobs.
Strengthening alignment between education, workforce agencies, and employers so policy decisions and funding reflect labor market realities.
Investing in regional workforce capacity, because local ecosystems—not one-size-fits-all mandates—create long-term economic strength.
Examples abound. On Nov. 18, for example, thousands of high school students from Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Wayne, Washtenaw, and Livingston counties met working professionals who have built successful careers in a variety of fields through MiCareerQuest Southeast.
And that was just one of many moments this fall that show the system’s reach. Michigan Works! agencies across the state have been hosting sector-focused job fairs, employer roundtables, and hands-on career exploration events designed to meet local needs.
In West Michigan, MiCareerQuest drew record attendance as students rotated through live, interactive demonstrations in manufacturing, construction, IT, and health sciences. In the Upper Peninsula, Michigan Works! partnered with regional employers to run targeted hiring events that connected residents to good-paying jobs in skilled trades and healthcare. Northern and Mid-Michigan agencies have launched new career expos, returning-citizen hiring initiatives, and employer listening sessions to identify talent gaps before they become crises.
Taken together, these events showcase a statewide workforce system that is responsive, collaborative, and deeply embedded in local economies. They also reinforce a simple truth: Career development is economic development.
Career Development Is Economic Development
Career development isn’t just a service—it’s an economic strategy.
If Michigan wants a stronger future—higher incomes, more competitive industries, and vibrant communities—state leaders must prioritize investments that develop our workforce at scale. That means stable funding, modern training infrastructure, and policy alignment that keeps talent here and attracts talent from outside our borders.
A few weeks ago, I met a young engineer named Marcus. He grew up here, graduated from one of our top universities, and genuinely wanted to build his future in Michigan. But when I asked where he was interviewing, every opportunity he listed—Chicago, Columbus, Denver—was out of state.
“It’s not that I want to leave,” he told me. “It’s just where the advanced work is happening.”
Marcus wasn’t frustrated—just practical. The cutting-edge opportunities he wants aren’t visible to him in Michigan. It is a stark reminder that our challenge isn’t a lack of talent—it’s a lack of investment and alignment to keep that talent here.
This National Career Development Month, Michigan has a chance to recommit to a simple truth: our state’s economic future depends on a workforce system strong enough to meet the moment. The Michigan Works! network stands ready to lead that charge—if Michigan invests with the urgency this new era demands.
For us, that means shoring up the Going Pro Talent Fund or innovating to find a better alternative. It means scaling apprenticeship opportunities and reinforcing a pro-work infrastructure so more people can participate in the job market. It means creating more apprenticeships so Michigan can continue to lead the nation in getting young people into advanced training.
We also want to ensure that our Congressional leaders keep the state’s workforce strong. For them, the charge is a little different: we need robust leadership to reauthorize federal workforce laws in ways that support our economy, as well as renewed investment in programs that bring more people more opportunities.
The moment is here. The challenge is now.
Let’s get to work.