Michigan Works! Southwest brings employers, educators, economic development organizations and other community partners together to solve employment challenges
We work with our partners to identify industry specific opportunities within our service area. Healthcare, manufacturing, and energy are experiencing healthy growth and see a need for talent development. Employers are encouraged to join their local consortium focus area and to access available resources. Within each industry we look at talent shortages, ways to improve jobs training, employee recruitment, and retention strategies.
The focus of the Southwest Michigan Healthcare Consortium is to develop healthcare industry-based partnerships that promote the economic health and welfare of the areas’ businesses and workers. This four-county group of employers, education providers, economic development organizations and other community partners work collaboratively to promote the economic health and welfare of the Michigan Works! Southwest areas’ businesses and workers. Regional activities address healthcare worker shortages, skill shortages, training mismatches, employee recruitment, retention, and organizational design issues that are common across this geographic area.
The members of the Southwest Michigan Healthcare Consortium support one another and the local economy through:
- Sharing best practices in a forum that includes healthcare employers and partners representing workforce development, education, and economic development.
- Planning and holding career fairs to assist with meeting current employer needs.
- Developing and maintaining a database of current healthcare providers within the Michigan Works! Southwest area.
- Conducting periodic needs surveys and sharing the results.
The Southwest Michigan Advanced Manufacturing Career Consortium uses a locally developed, innovative and integrated model to attract, screen, and train qualified candidates for current and future advanced manufacturing career opportunities. Local manufacturers and service providers have been meeting since 2011. The group of over 180 manufacturing companies and community organizations convenes to discuss and develop innovative and integrated strategies to address this crucial issue, including on-the-job training, apprenticeships, career advancement, and payment of education.
MEWDC (Michigan Energy Workforce Development Consortium) is an industry-led partnership of more than 50 representatives of industry, workforce, education, and veterans. It was established in 2009 to address current and future workforce issues that are crucial to building and sustaining Michigan’s energy industry.