Now hiring across Michigan: jobs and talent connecting

Strengthening ties between Michigan jobs and college graduates

LANSING - The Michigan Economic Development Corporation Wednesday is launching an intensive regional push to connect companies, jobs and talented job seekers including college students, seasoned pros and young professionals with Michigan ties.

Three of the events begin simultaneously across the region Wednesday with more in the planning stages.

"The best teams are always seeking the best players and one of the first things businesses ask us about is whether we have the top talent they need," said MEDC President and CEO Michael A. Finney.

“We have some of the hottest tech job markets in the nation, our manufacturers are growing and we have a host of other great opportunities as well as abundant talent: we have some of the best universities in the world, including more engineers than nearly any other state. We just need to connect the people and the opportunities."

Amber Hubbard was a Michigan State University communications senior thinking she might have to leave the state to find work when she attended MEDC's first LiveWorkDetroit event and made connections leading to a job she loves in downtown Detroit. 

The regional efforts to connect people and opportunities include:

LiveWorkDetroit: Wednesday and October 21, recent and current college students and young professionals can learn the best (and often little known) reasons to live, work and play in Michigan's largest city. The one day immersion includes important networking opportunities with business leaders who have jobs to fill now. For more on LiveWorkDetroit, visit: http://www.michiganbusiness.org/Events/LiveWorkDetroit-Fall-Kick-Off/ 

MichAGAIN: Targeting engineering and IT professionals with a Michigan connection, MichAGAIN Wednesday will host a networking event in Cincinnati, with Michigan employers on hand looking to hire talent for in-demand jobs. More events follow this fall. For more on MichAGAIN, visit: http://www.michagain.org/ 

Michigan Shifting Gears: The latest class of transitioning business professionals will graduate Wednesday from an intensive, low cost course designed to put them on the path to a new career with Michigan start ups and small businesses. For more on Michigan Shifting Gears and the next opportunities, visit: http://www.mitalent.org/michigan-shifting-gears-program/ 

Pure Michigan Opportunity Lakeshore: On October 28, recent college graduates and talented job seekers will network with employers from the booming new-energy manufacturing corridor along the Lake Michigan shoreline, all with jobs to fill. To register, visit: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07e4s07vxs9cd8d12e&oseq=

While Newsweek recently ranked Michigan number one in the nation for new job growth, other reports reveal a looming talent gap nationwide is hampering business expansion, creating a growing need to connect jobs and talent.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2.7 million U.S. jobs remained unfilled in August, with employers saying they’re having a hard time finding workers with the right skills. Manpower reports 46 percent of senior human resources executives say a talent gap is having a negative impact on their ability to grow, and only 27 percent felt they were able to hire the skilled workers they need.

A September 10 report in The Economist found that even with relatively high unemployment, top talent is in short supply globally. Michigan is one of the first state's in the nation to make talent attraction and retention a core part of it's efforts to grow the economy and spur economic development.

In addition, according to the websites trulia.com and simplyhired.com, Detroit is the no. 4 place to find a job and buy a home: http://www.mlive.com/jobs/index.ssf/2011/09/detroit_no_4_on_the_list_of_best_cities.html 

“Michigan businesses are creating good jobs,” said Amy Cell, MEDC Senior Vice President for Talent Enhancement, who oversees the state's workforce development efforts. “We’re working to find innovative ways to make sure they have a supply of top talent to fill them.”

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.