Coordinated Effort Introduces a New Generation to Careers in Manufacturing

About the Program

Category: Community and Economic Development (Best in Category)

Year: 2015

What happens when 32 manufacturers host tours for students from every public high school in Macomb County? 1,246 students learn that manufacturing offers an interesting career path! Manufacturing is Macomb County’s leading industry. Providing nearly a third of all jobs in the county, 1,600 manufacturers employ some 66,000 people. According to the Michigan Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary earned by someone in the industry is $68,488 annually. After learning that there was concern from the industry that not enough young people were entering the field, the Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development launched a plan to help close the skilled trades gap. It partnered with many agencies to provide an opportunity for students to meet the people who make things and see manufacturing in action. As a result, Macomb County lead one of the nation’s largest celebrations of Manufacturing Day. And, the benefits of this collaborative effort continue to multiply. With strengthened relationships between industry, education and government, many of the participating companies have established programs designed to bring young people in to their workplaces with a goal to help them learn the skills and knowledge they need to secure well-paying jobs when they graduate.