Talent 2025 recently released their Labor Force Participation Rate research brief. The rate is an important measure of the health of the economy. While the unemployment rate measures the number of individuals who are not working and looking for work as a proportion of the number of individuals in the labor force, the ...
SUPPORT WORKFORCE FUNDING The President has recognized that there are millions of vacant jobs in the country, and he says he wants to get people back to work. But this budget says otherwise. With proposed program eliminations and reductions just shy of $1 billion, it would seriously undercut our system's ...
Is your company interested in developing a registered apprenticeship program? Why do it alone? Apprenticeships have been used to train labor and address critical talent needs for over 75 years. West Michigan Works! is now part of a statewide initiative to expand apprenticeship programs. By acting as a liaison with ...
On Tuesday, July 11, 2017, West Michigan Works!, in partnership with Muskegon Community College (MCC), unveiled their new certified nurse assistant (CNA) learning lab. The lab features medical equipment, human manikins and a smart board for students in the CNA program at MCC. The lab in Muskegon is the third ...
On July 3, the West Michigan Works! Service Center in Barry County opened its doors in a new location. The opening was formally recognized at an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony on July 12. Attendees included Mayor Tossava, Barry County Commissioner Ben Geiger, Barry County Chamber president and board ...
The Grand Rapids Community Foundation recently awarded $20,000 in grant funding to support boot camp technology training for local employees. The grant will provide low-wage employees, who face barriers to professional development, the opportunity to learn the technology skills employers need. Participants will learn skills such as software coding and business analysis. ...
West Michigan Works! has partnered with the Michigan Career and Technical Institute (MCTI) to help fill talent gaps in health care and provide new opportunities for job seekers who experience barriers to employment. A 13-week long CNA course provides no-cost training to those wanting to enter the field or needing ...
A Message from the CEO According to the president's 2018 budget priorities, the administration is requesting $9.6 billion for the Department of Labor, a $2.5 billion (21 percent) decrease from the 2017 annualized CR (Continued Resolution) level. Some of our community partners will be impacted by these cuts. While West Michigan ...
Dee-Tails was the perfect spot for jobseeker, Alahna. She loves dogs and Dee-Tails is a full time, cage-free dog daycare, grooming and boarding business. They have a large outside fenced in play yard and an inside playroom as well. Both were designed specifically for the safety and comfort of the ...
Milacron LLC, a manufacturer of plastic injection molding equipment, will be consolidating locations this summer. The decision will result in a $5 million investment in its Greenville facility and the addition of up to 70 new jobs. A collaboration between regional partners, including Montcalm Community College, Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center ...
West Michigan Works! is proud to announce the location of a new affiliate site in Rockford. North Kent Community Services (NKCS), located at 10075 Northland Dr NE, is the largest food pantry and resource center in Northern Kent County. Michigan Works! staff will now be available at NKCS on Mondays and ...
West Michigan Works! has announced the promotion of Allise Wilkerson to Manager of its service center in Ottawa County. Wilkerson has been with Michigan Works! since 2010 and brings a wealth of program and managerial experience to her new position. She began her career working with job seekers in the ...
Trudy Brenner inside the CNA classroom at the Westside Service Center in Grand Rapids The Westside Service Center now opens its doors to job seekers, employers and nursing manikins. A cohort of 11 adults are enrolled in a 13-week certified nursing assistant (CNA) course at the service center and will ...
West Michigan Works! recently announced the release of its “2017 Hot Jobs List,” which contains 100 high-demand careers in the region’s top growing industries: construction, manufacturing, information technology, health sciences, agriculture and professional and administrative services. The Hot Jobs Lists provides a regional look at in-demand occupations; those with significant ...
California Closets, a California-based custom storage manufacturer and retailer, has chosen to open a new manufacturing facility in Cascade Township. The company is expected to invest over $5.7 million in the new facility and create 61 new jobs. The company chose the West Michigan location over other sites in Illinois, ...
Essential Service Award Winners (left to right) back row: Dave Janes, Michael VanHouten, Kelly Brinker, Dave Smith - Chair of the West Michigan Works! Workforce Development Board, front row: Yolanda Marble, Terry White, Julio Ignacio Caballero, Linda El (not pictured: Shela Jones, Lisa Vanderlaan and the staff at Martin Marathon) ...
Career Exploration Event Introduces Youth to In-Demand Careers “The exhibits were like real life job experiences,” said a middle school student. “I thought we were just going to listen to a whole bunch of speakers, but I like how you guys changed it up!” On Thursday, April 13, 2017, ...