Career and Technical Education (CTE), and programs provide students the opportunity to explore careers and gain real-world skills. Hands-on training is offered in high-wage, in-demand fields like healthcare, IT, advanced manufacturing, and construction and can be taken at high schools, colleges, and some universities.
CTE programs prepare students for careers through a combination of career exposure, academic rigor, technical knowledge, and real-world skills. Students who complete a high school CTE program are college- and/or career-ready when they finish. They also have a high school graduation rate of 94.9%, – significantly higher than the average rate of 80.5% in Michigan.
Celebrate CTE Education: Learn what Michigan Works! does for your community
Student exploring bricklaying at MiCareerQuest
Career exposure is vital to helping students understand postsecondary options. February is CTE Month, and I am excited to highlight a key partner in career exposure – the Michigan Works! Agencies.
There are sixteen Michigan Works! agencies- five of which are in Southeast Michigan:
- SEMCA Michigan Works!
- I am a member of the Board of Directors for SEMCA Michigan Works!
- Oakland County Michigan Works!
- Macomb -St. Clair Michigan Works!
- Michigan Works Southeast!
- Detroit At Work!.
Each of these agencies serves a different geographic area with the same fundamental goal – to connect job seekers with employers seeking workers through several different programs. Michigan Works! serves youth- as well as adult job seekers.
Some have additional focus programs targeting populations within their jurisdictions, such as the award-winning Refugee and Immigrant Navigator program at SEMCA and the Skills for Life program at Detroit at Work. Most offer a range of services that are critical for supporting a workforce with skills needed for personal and professional growth. Although each of the agencies are independent, Southeast Michigan’s Michigan Works! agencies work collaboratively to fill the needs of the regional labor force – both current and future.
MiCareerQuest Southeast is a day-long experience that introduces high school students to Michigan’s highest-demand careers through age-appropriate and fun hands-on activities, in addition to offering opportunities for interaction with industry professionals and postsecondary education representatives. With a massive team of collaborators across counties and sectors, this annual event could be referred to as the Super Bowl of CTE for Southeast Michigan.
Exploring careers in technology, construction, manufacturing, and healthcare with professionals using the latest technology.
Oakland County Michigan Works! coordinated the third installment of this regional event – the first since the pandemic. This mammoth logistical undertaking brought close to 8,000 high school students from across the region to the Suburban Collection in Novi on November 14, 2023. This event was made possible by the collaboration of:
- 119 employers, education, labor, and training institutions;
- The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO);
- Media representatives;
- About 1000 professionals from construction, advanced manufacturing, health sciences, and technology; along with
- 200 volunteers – many from Michigan Works! agencies and education partners.
Michigan Works agencies and education partners joined the activities. Pictured from left to right:
- Gregory Pitoniak, CEO, SEMCA Michigan Works!
- Patrick Rouse, Director, Workforce and Continuing Education, Macomb Community College
- Susan Corbin, Director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth
- Shamar Herron, Director of Michigan Works Southeast
- Justin Al-Igoe, Director of Macomb-St Clair Michigan Works
SEMCOG had the privilege to be part of 2023’s MiCareerQuest Southeast.
Check out the MiCareerQuest Southeast 2023 video on Youtube
Students and professionals – including Jennifer Llewellyn, Director of the Oakland County Michigan Works; Susan Corbin, Director of LEO; and Stephanie Beckhorn, Director of Employment and Training at LEO – shared their experiences and the value of this experience with us.
Oakland County Leaders show support for the event. Pictured from left to right:
- Jennifer Llewellyn, Director, Oakland County Michigan Works!
- Hilary Chambers, Deputy County Executive, Oakland County
- Dave Coulter, County Executive, Oakland County
- Susan Corbin, Director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth
Events such as MiCareerQuest are important in creating a high-energy, exciting opportunity to see many different career options in one place, but continuing the conversation is just as important to help young people make career decisions. A recent Youth Employment Awareness Study sponsored by SEMCA Michigan Works! found that youth need frequent communication in a multi-tiered strategy. Institutions wanting to engage youth also need to be aware of barriers and challenges facing young people. Career exploration is a year-round activity, and Michigan Works! agencies run several different youth programs. Some of these are funded through the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which focuses on eligible youth aged 14-24 with programs to help overcome barriers to education, training, and employment. Different agencies focus on the specific needs in their jurisdictions, but these may include:
- Jobs for Michigan Graduates
- College Access Networks
- Summer youth work programs
- Career exploration and guidance
- Paid Experience Training for high-demand careers.
Young people are the future. Engaging them early is necessary to help expose them to career opportunities and help them prepare for short- and long-term training, education, work, and lifelong learning. Michigan Works! agencies in collaboration with K-12, post-secondary institutions, labor partners, and employers are key to connecting all youth to career success.
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