May is Professional Trades Month in Michigan, an observance that honors workers in professional trades while encouraging students and adults to explore education and career opportunities. Businesses across the state need skilled workers in sectors such as agriculture, construction, education, energy, health care, hospitality, information technology, manufacturing, mobility and outdoor recreation.

According to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, many of these high-demand, high-wage careers do not require a four-year degree and have pathways that focus on credentials, certificates, on-the-job training and registered apprenticeships.

“Hardworking Michiganders in professional trades careers earn a good living while doing jobs that benefit their families and communities,” LEO Director Susan Corbin said in a news release. “Professional Trades Month is an excellent opportunity to help more Michiganders understand the benefits of these high-skill, high-demand careers, helping us expand access to pathways that lead to economic prosperity and brighter futures.”

State Apprenticeship Expansion is one approach to help prepare the future workforce. Registered apprenticeships are career training programs in which apprentices gain paid work experience, related classroom instruction and a national industry-recognized credential upon program completion.

According to LEO, these programs often lead to high-paying careers with a median one-year-after completion wage of $74,400 among those who completed training in 2021. This was significantly greater than the 2022 median statewide wage of $45,500. Currently, there are more than 1,000 programs and nearly 20,000 active apprentices in Michigan. Find out more at https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/wd/apprenticeships.

Another important tool in preparing Michiganders for careers in professional trades is the Going PRO Talent Fund. It helps individuals secure employment, industry-recognized credentials and strong wages by providing training grants to Michigan businesses to support employees in high-demand, professional trades industries. Since its launch in 2014, the Talent Fund has helped more than 7,100 Michigan businesses train more than 175,000 workers.

More information is available at https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/wd/programs-services/going-pro-talent-fund.

Michigan also provides several resources that support career awareness and exploration for those interested in pursuing a new or different professional opportunity. The state’s official career exploration resource, Pathfinder, at https://pathfinder.mitalent.org/, allows users to explore careers and identify educational opportunities throughout the state. This free online tool uses labor market information, wage data and other metrics to best match users and their skills with career paths and jobs. Those ready to find their first, next or another job, might visit Pure Michigan Talent Connect, at https://www.mitalent.org/. It’s the state’s online platform for connecting job seekers and employers.

LEO and the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics have also created resources to help residents follow career and labor trends. Go to Michigan.gov/AllAccess to learn more about supports available to connect Michiganders and businesses with the opportunities and unique resources they need to build a better future.