Director’s Corner: Workforce Development for the New Economy

Wayne County continues to move forward during the most challenging economic times in recent history. Michigan’s unemployment rate has topped 15%, a rate that hasn’t been seen by any state in the nation in the past 25 years. Our high unemployment rate is a direct result of the consolidation of the U.S. automotive industry and the state’s abundance of vehicle OEMs and automotive suppliers. As many in our highly skilled workforce face a career change, Wayne County is working with the State of Michigan to smooth the transition of displaced workers through a variety of training and diversification programs. These programs are designed to assist them with professional development and with the development of strategies that will help them succeed in new economy jobs.

One such initiative is the Keep Michigan Working program. Keep Michigan Working is a coalition of State, County, and local organizations committed to providing strategies to create jobs through diversification. This coalition, with Wayne County as a leading member, is committed to several initiatives designed to keep workers and businesses in Michigan, including:

• Workforce assistance through the Keep Michigan Working website. The website helps link dislocated workers with training and development programs that will match their skills with employer needs. The website also offers guidance and resources for workers that are considering entrepreneurial ventures.

• Targeted diversification strategies to attract new businesses in alternative energy, life sciences, defense, aerospace, and logistics.

• Enhanced community relations strategies to provide easier access to and greater awareness of the resources available to Michigan workers.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation, in partnership with Wayne County and other local economic development organizations, has put on several Manufacturing Diversification Summits across the state. These summits are designed to help current manufacturers learn how to apply and match their core competencies and technologies to new products and industries. The goals of the initiative include targeting 300 companies for individual assistance by industry experts, having 25 companies receive certification assistance by the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, and secure $150 million in new contracts for these targeted companies. Wayne County held a diversification summit in April of this year and there will be another summit held at Oakland University on December 16th. Please visit Oakland University here to register for this event.

Wayne County recognizes the importance of our partnerships with organizations dedicated to assisting workers and businesses as they adjust during this difficult economic time. I strongly encourage businesses and workers to contact EDGE here directly for more information on our diversification and workforce development efforts.  Michigan is blessed with a labor pool of talented, hard working people. By working together, we will not only capitalize on the opportunities within the new economy, but we will define it for the rest of the 21st century.

Turkia Awada Mullin is an Assistant CEO and Chief Development Officer for Wayne County’s Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE)