Michigan invests resources into building its highly skilled pipeline.
What has been driving a talent migration surge into Michigan?
Balance.
The state reached a new population high of over 10.1 million residents, according to new Vintage 2024 population estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau. This milestone estimate follows years of steep growth experienced between 2021 and 2024. Following a slight decline in 2020, Michigan is said to have welcomed more than 67,750 new residents.
Population trends analyzed by the Weldon Cooper Center’s Demographics Research Group at the University of Virginia additionally show Michigan has gained the fifth-largest number of adults aged 25 to 44 in the nation. From 2020 to 2023, Michigan’s demographic rose by 87,638 adults in this cohort.
Each year, new residents are discovering Michigan’s quality of life, low cost of living, affordable housing, and educational offerings, which have made the state an ideal location to plant roots and grow. Not to mention, the state’s leading industries — encompassing defense and aerospace, advanced manufacturing, EV and mobility, semiconductors, life sciences, clean energy, and outdoor products — are providing career opportunities that allow talent to find the balance between a dream job and dream life.
“It’s really critical to have a fulfilling nine to five, but it’s just as critical to have a fulfilling five to nine, and we can get both of those in Michigan,” says Hilary Doe, chief growth officer for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).
To keep skilled talent at home, Michigan’s leadership has positioned its communities’ voices at the head of targeted initiatives that aim to carve an innovative path forward.
Custom-Built Solutions
In 2023, the state became the first in the nation to create a dedicated chief growth officer role as the MEDC unveiled the arrival of Michigan’s Growth Office. Spearheaded by Doe, the Growth Office has begun building upon the foundation set by the Growing Michigan Together Council, whose growth blueprint received a 19-1 vote to place bold recommendations in front of Michigan’s Legislature in 2023.
“We have taken an approach that is community first, and a lot of people say that, but not everybody can back it up,” says Doe. “We started with community engagement and to date have talked to 25,000 Michiganders in person. That is what informed those policy recommendations from the Council and our pilots and programs. They’ve all been structured in response to community feedback.”
This groundwork received a $45.5 million boost when the Michigan Legislature passed Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget in July 2024, providing fresh funding to the MEDC and the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to lock in on talent and growth strategies. Approved budget items aim to bolster three pillars identified by the Growing Michigan Together Council’s blueprint: Establish Michigan as the top Innovation Hub in the Midwest, build a lifelong learning system focused on future-ready skills and competencies, and create thriving communities that are magnets for young talent.
Initiatives begin with the creation of a $60 million Innovation Fund, focusing on scaling startups and small businesses throughout Michigan. For Doe, the fund’s establishment is a critical first step in acknowledging the importance of highlighting homegrown companies and preventing capital flight. In addition, the budget includes $24 million to support the exploration of new technology and mobility projects such as drone infrastructure, e-bike incentives, and an inductive charging pilot project.
“The Growth Office is working intently on growing median incomes in the state, retaining small businesses, and supporting our entrepreneurs,” notes Doe. “Building our innovation ecosystem in the state is one key way to do that. We have no lack of creators in Michigan. What we don’t want is for them to feel they would ever need to go somewhere else to find the talent or capital they need in order to scale.”
Future-Ready Skills
In line with efforts to cultivate an accessible lifelong learning system for Michigan’s youth, the budget ensured that $211 million was dedicated to building an adaptable and competitive talent pipeline.
A $30 million investment has increased funding for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship. The state’s flagship scholarship program is designed for high school graduates, covering up to $4,820 in tuition costs for an associate degree or skilled certificate at a Michigan community college. The remaining $181 million will be used to aid students in achieving their full academic potential, funding resources such as literacy grants and coaches.
“Honestly, it’s been changing the landscape,” says MEDC Director of Talent Solutions Chris Rishko. “Going to school has been a barrier for students, especially as costs keep increasing. The Michigan Achievement Scholarship has been removing that barrier.”
Investing in education has been the best way for the state to showcase the capabilities of its future workforce. Doing so has allowed the state to develop resources that stay ahead of industry needs to ensure graduates hold the skillsets that enable them to hit the ground running. The MEDC’s Talent Action Team is one asset that has opened doors between industry and education. The Talent Action Team aids Michigan businesses, educational institutions, and workforce development boards in filling open roles and informing evolving skillset requirements.
“It’s really critical to have a fulfilling nine to five, but it’s just as critical to have a fulfilling five to nine, and we can get both of those in Michigan.”
— Hilary Doe, chief growth officer, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
For those eager to explore new career pathways early on, the Michigan STEAM Ahead internship program is available to connect students in the state’s colleges and universities to companies around Michigan to gain first-hand experience. Since first launching the internship program, the Talent Action Team has seen the value of the project skyrocket, naturally increasing interest from Michigan employers looking to access fresh talent. As the program has begun preparations for another summer semester after exceeding goals for winter semester participation, Rishko is confident that all trends are looking up.
“Students are always open to and ready for more opportunities to understand what their career landscape can look like so that they can be more informed and make better decisions as they move through their professional journey,” says Rishko. “This removes yet another barrier, allowing students to engage with employers to understand what the day-to-day in a particular industry or role might look like.”
Make The Move
The Michigan Growth Office’s Make MI Home pilot program was launched to place Michigan communities at the front of their own regional talent attraction efforts.
This collaborative approach brings together economic development organizations, nonprofits, local governments, and more within the outlined State of Michigan prosperity regions. Proposals required these communities to specify whether their goal was to attract new or retain current residents and target audiences for the program. This can cover specific industries or skill sets and provide grant funding for attraction incentives like relocation support, rental assistance, reverse scholarships, community welcome programs, and outdoor recreation or cultural institution access.
In October 2024, the Growth Office announced the first round of over $661,000 in grant funding would be distributed among five consortiums around the state. Recipients include Discover Southwest Michigan ($100,000), Grand Valley State University ($200,000), Middle Michigan Development Corporation ($20,000), Wayne State University entrepreneurship hub TechTown Detroit ($250,000), and West Michigan Works! ($91,250).
“As Michigan grapples with the critical challenge of population growth, this investment demonstrates a strong vote of confidence in our region’s potential,” said Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Arthur Havlicek. “With their support, we are ready to launch bold, impactful strategies that will establish a healthy growth cycle in Southwest Michigan and serve as a model for talent attraction efforts throughout the state.”
A breakdown of each selected program shows that these communities are focused on attracting and retaining talent related to STEM-H and skilled trades. Many programs strategically focus on creating accessible pathways for underrepresented populations and international students. Funding will be used in a variety of ways within each community to aid in needs such as housing, mentorship access, job readiness training, scholarships, and more.
“It’s a first-of-its-kind program in the country, in that we asked our communities to apply as regional consortiums to let us know what and who they needed to attract and retain locally,” says Doe. “We received overwhelming interest in the program, so we plan to roll out round two within the first half of 2025.”
Creating thriving communities is further supported by the FY25 budget as it builds upon more than $1.4 billion the state has put into rehabilitating or constructing nearly 10,000 homes in Michigan. The state’s legislature allocated $100 million toward the construction of more affordable housing, in addition to $75 million dedicated to transit support for road, water, and rail transit services.
Synchronicity has found its way from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula down to its Ann Arbor region. For talent looking to maintain the balance between quality of life and a promising career, just know You Can in Michigan.
