Connecting talent to job opportunities in Wayne County

Last year, Wayne County launched JobEDGE to help new and expanding companies in our region connect with skilled workers in high-tech and high-demand job fields. EDGE has also grown our relationships with the region’s various workforce development entities, including SEMCA, to ensure that our region’s workers have the skills they need to meet the demands of a diversified economy. Now, EDGE is beginning to focus on bringing talent back to our county, not only to fill open positions, but to start new businesses and become part of the economic fabric of our region.

One such effort that Wayne County has recently become involved in is MichAGAIN. MichAGAIN is an effort that was launched by Ann Arbor SPARK and is being supported by several partners, ranging from government (Wayne County EDGE, the MEDC, Oakland County), to academia (the University of Michigan and U-M Alumni Association, Michigan State University and the MSU Alumni Association, and Wayne State University), to the private sector (General Electric, Arbor Ventures).

MichAGAIN targets college graduates who have left Michigan to pursue other opportunities (collectively, their exodus from the state is often referred to as Michigan’s “brain drain”).  The companies that have involved themselves with MichAGAIN are doing much more than simply spreading the message that exciting new technologies are emerging and new businesses are beginning in Michigan. MichAGAIN has hosted networking and recruiting events across the country to convince attendees to return to Michigan and take advantage of job opportunities that do not exist elsewhere. 

Right now, there are several companies in Wayne County and elsewhere that are looking to fill positions. General Electric, located in Van Buren Township near Detroit Metro Airport, has expanded upon their initial research and development effort by investing in the development of turbine technology. Over the next year, they are looking to fill several high-skilled positions that require workers with advanced degrees. Ricardo Plc, also located in Van Buren Twp, is looking to hire engineers. TRW Automotive and A123 Systems, both with offices in Livonia, are also looking for workers.

With so many companies hiring, the time is now to come back to Wayne County and to Michigan. EDGE is doing everything possible to partner with companies, academic institutions, and workforce development entities to match workers with employment opportunities and fill open positions. Through leveraged collaboration with our partners, we will make sure that our county is a place where opportunity thrives for our citizens and future citizens.