Talent

The pandemic highlighted disparities in education as virtually all levels and types of education pivoted to remote learning in Spring 2020. While many have returned to in-person, some have remained remote and others are taking a hybrid approach. By May of 2021, at least 10.5% of the region’s households had limited or no access to the internet.

Resource: SEMCOG Broadband Availability and Usage Tool

Teachers are a critical part of a successful education system and development of a future workforce. Yet, 20% of teachers in urban districts quit every year, and 46% of new teachers leave the profession in their first five years. Enrollment in teaching programs continues to decline.

Resource: Providing Quality Education for All Students

Student enrollment levels are determined by a combination of demographic and economic trends. K-12 enrollment over the last ten years has declined as the region’s population has aged and fewer households are in the child-rearing age. Public K-12 enrollment declined during the pandemic with increased homeschooling, move to private schools, and students leaving education. College enrollment also declined with community colleges feeling the brunt of the impact. Among the reasons identified by students for not pursuing higher education during the pandemic were tuition costs, need to work longer hours, increased family responsibilities, and additional costs associated with education and training.

Career Awareness is essential to informing students about career opportunities through exposure to a broad range of occupations. Early exposure through age-appropriate hands on activities and interaction with professionals can provide students with information to help them make informed decisions on postsecondary options. Career Technical Education (CTE) is one of the most effective career readiness programs, but relatively few students pursue these programs in high school despite high levels of college and career success among students that graduate from CTE programs.

Resource: Providing Quality Education for All Students

Labor force participation rates in Southeast Michigan were lower than other peer regions in the Midwest, but these were further impacted by the pandemic. Massive job losses in industries such as food services, entertainment and retail largely impacted young workers, racial and ethnic minorities – particularly African American and Hispanic workers, those with low education levels, part-time workers, low-income households, and women. While sectors such as finance, construction, and warehousing recovered quickly, others—mainly those that require close physical proximity including private education and healthcare, leisure and hospitality, and other services—had lower rates of recovery, largely due to a labor shortage.

Resource: Quick Facts: Where is our Workforce?

In 2019, 4.5% of the workforce in Southeast Michigan was working from home, but by August 2020, this had increased to 54% – a twelvefold increase. With increased vaccinations, lifting of pandemic related restrictions, and businesses resuming normal hours, many workers have returned to the workplace - often on a hybrid arrangement. By July 2021, 21.8% of workers were still working from home. Many employers are offering remote or hybrid work environments to meet the demands of workers and also because of evidence that remote work can be just as productive and in-person work arrangements.

Resource: Quick Facts: Remote Workers in Southeast Michigan

Future Skills

The SEMCOG/MAC Task Force on Future Skills convened business, employers, education, labor, workforce development, and government organizations to identify and help develop the necessary education and training infrastructure to address future workforce skills, and position Southeast Michigan for long-term economic success. With increased technology in the workplace, many current American jobs are becoming obsolete. This will result in changing demand for skills for new jobs that will be created, as well as those that will evolve across industries and occupations at every level - not just Information Technology. The Task Force identified in-demand skills in a changing economy and recommendations to ensure our education and training systems are able to address these needs. It included case studies focused on four areas:

• Create and promote a framework for Lifelong Learning
• Build support for multiple career pathways
• Promote collaboration with employers throughout the education and workforce development system
• Increase labor force participation by expanding the number of qualified workers from all segments of the population

Final Report - Future Skills: Preparing for the Changing World of Work.
 

Education Reform

The SEMCOG/MAC Task Force on Education Reform Task Force was convened to develop a policy framework for providing quality education for all students. This was a key recommendation of the 2016 SEMCOG/MAC Economic Development Strategy: Partnering for Prosperity. The Task Force considered recommendations by various other groups and was also charged with:

• Responding to state education initiatives/recommendations
• Addressing public school reform initiatives in Detroit and elsewhere
• Considering local school finance recommendations
• Addressing the perception, status, recognition, and evaluation of teachers

Final Report: Providing Quality Education for All Students: A Comprehensive Approach

STEM Career and Skilled Trades

The demand for technical skills in the workforce continues to grow. SEMCOG and MAC developed a strategy for building awareness, interest, and appreciation among key groups – students of all ages, parents, counselors, and educators for skilled trades and technical careers – to meet employer needs and the changing demands of the economy. Several resources were developed, including a Technical Career Continuum Model which identifies different paths to career success through post-secondary education - industry certificates, two and four year degrees, and apprenticeships.

Resources for students, parents, counselors, and teachers, including:

• Semscope magazine
• Policy Recommendations
• Preparing the Technical Workforce: Programs for Technical Skill Development
• STEM and Skilled Trades Student Resource Center
• Promoting STEM Posters (for download)

Infrastructure and Jobs Asset Map

Infrastructure and Jobs Asset Map analyzed the jobs expected to be created as a result of major infrastructure projects in Southeast Michigan and identifies training programs to create a workforce that could compete for these jobs. The projects include the new international trade crossing between Detroit and Windsor, Canada; and major improvements to I-75, I-94, and the M-1 rail streetcar. This initiative raised the need to reskill and retrain the current workforce for in-demand jobs and also to create a future pipeline.

Soft Skills

The Lifelong Soft Skills Framework was developed by the Talent Task Force. This is a plan for developing essential workplace and life skills that help students and employees succeed. It identified 18 key soft skills and eight stakeholder groups who have a role in developing these skills through teaching, modeling, reinforcing, and assessments. Material in the report was used by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to develop 14 soft skill videos.

Data, Tools and Maps

The following tools provide valuable information to assist talent development stakeholders with decision making on the region’s talent needs, trends and opportunities.

2045 School District Forecast Summary: Population Age 5-17 2015-2045 by School District

Laborshed–Linking Residents to Workplaces: shows where Southeast Michigan’s workers live, work and the commute between both locations.

Employment Density: shows employment by workplace, community and size.

Broadband Availability and Usage Tool: displays digital connectivity, in terms of residential broadband availability, internet use, and computer usage throughout Southeast Michigan

Community Profiles: numerous data sets including highest level of education by community.

Reports and Blogs

SEMCOG /MAC talent Task Force reports can be found in Accordion 1.  In addition, SEMCOG has developed a number of reports on trends related to the current and future workforce.

2045 Forecast of School Age Population-Quick Facts: Analysis of school age population trends

Where is our Workforce? Southeast Michigan’s Labor Force Participation Rate Trends: Analysis of the Detroit area’s labor force participation rate

Profile of Jobs and Workers most Impacted by COVID-19 Lockdowns in Southeast Michigan: Data and analysis of worker data

Talent Blogs

Videos

SEMCOG participates annually in regional efforts to promote career awareness and exploration. These videos provide highlights of two of the region’s most important annual events for career exploration.

Manufacturing Day (2019)

MiCareerQuest Southeast (2019)