Jeffrey Mosher welcomes Edythe Hatter-Williams, CEO, Capital Area Michigan Works! CAMW! Lansing, MI, to talk about how employers are turning to non-traditional talent.
The current Michigan unemployment rate is 4.8 percent. The current U.S. rate is 4.1 percent and in Lansing, our unemployment rate is 4.5 percent. This is making it increasingly difficult for employers to find available talent, and many of them are turning to talent with non-traditional education. Employers are partnering with colleges, universities, private training providers and our Michigan Works! system to develop new ways of ensuring they have the talent they need. A bachelor’s degree isn’t the only path to a successful and rewarding career, and many businesses recognize that.
Edythe goes into the different education options employers are exploring:
• On-the-Job Training apprenticeships in a number of fields including healthcare, IT and hospitality business.
• Certificate Programs: A number of community colleges and private entities offer certificate or certification programs which are typically a shorter time period than an associates degree but gain people entry into jobs requiring the certificate.
• These are common in health care, with positions such as certified nursing assistants, dental assistants and pharmacy technicians all requiring certifications that range in time frame from a few months to a year+.
• IT is another area with certification programs such as Google’s IT Support Professional Certification or certification programs for a number of different softwares often offered by the software company itself.
• Associates Degrees: Associates are often offered at community colleges and many employers find candidates learn the necessary skills for success. Often taking around two years, associates degrees can also serve as transfer credits to complete bachelors degrees.
• On-the-Job Training apprenticeships in a number of fields including healthcare, IT and hospitality business.
• Certificate Programs: A number of community colleges and private entities offer certificate or certification programs which are typically a shorter time period than an associates degree but gain people entry into jobs requiring the certificate.
• These are common in health care, with positions such as certified nursing assistants, dental assistants and pharmacy technicians all requiring certifications that range in time frame from a few months to a year+.
• IT is another area with certification programs such as Google’s IT Support Professional Certification or certification programs for a number of different softwares often offered by the software company itself.
• Associates Degrees: Associates are often offered at community colleges and many employers find candidates learn the necessary skills for success. Often taking around two years, associates degrees can also serve as transfer credits to complete bachelors degrees.
There are many employers in our region hiring for good salary jobs with benefits requiring an associates degree, certification, apprenticeship, on-the-job training or other options than a bachelors degree. A handful of these are:
• Ingham County is hiring a Technical and Imaging Coordinator, making more than $43,000 year with some college in the legal field, associates degree preferred.
• Safelite Spirit is hiring Auto Glass Technician Trainees for $15/hour including medical benefits. The company will train for the position and offers tuition reimbursement for employees.
• CNC positions such as machinists and programmers are still in-demand, with companies such as American Tooling and Otter Base hiring for full time positions with benefits. For many of these positions, a CNC certification, degree or apprenticeship are required or preferred, though others are also willing to train candidates.
• Many of Dart Container’s positions, such as its Senior Manufacturing Engineer position, are accessible to those with an associates degree and experience.
• MSU Federal Credit Union has positions such as its Member Technical Support Specialist or Call Center Specialist that require only a high school diploma, standard computer skills and soft skills like attention to detail and problem solving. Other positions of theirs, such as Systems Administrators, are open to those with an associates degree in computer science or engineering.
• Ingham County is hiring a Technical and Imaging Coordinator, making more than $43,000 year with some college in the legal field, associates degree preferred.
• Safelite Spirit is hiring Auto Glass Technician Trainees for $15/hour including medical benefits. The company will train for the position and offers tuition reimbursement for employees.
• CNC positions such as machinists and programmers are still in-demand, with companies such as American Tooling and Otter Base hiring for full time positions with benefits. For many of these positions, a CNC certification, degree or apprenticeship are required or preferred, though others are also willing to train candidates.
• Many of Dart Container’s positions, such as its Senior Manufacturing Engineer position, are accessible to those with an associates degree and experience.
• MSU Federal Credit Union has positions such as its Member Technical Support Specialist or Call Center Specialist that require only a high school diploma, standard computer skills and soft skills like attention to detail and problem solving. Other positions of theirs, such as Systems Administrators, are open to those with an associates degree in computer science or engineering.
For all of their positions, candidates must score well on a credit check due to federal regulations.
For employers who would like to explore training support and other options to help them fill their talent needs, they can connect with our Business Services Team at 517-492-5516. CAMW!'s Business Services Team works with employers every day to help them develop talent solutions.
• The BST filled 2,675 jobs with 571 businesses in 2017.
• Last year they worked with 54 businesses to award more than $2.4 million in Skilled Trades Training Fund dollars to local businesses to allow them to train talent. More than 4,000 local workers were trained.
• This year, we are working with 54 employers to award more than $3.4 million in local employees through STTF. More than 3,800 local workers will be trained including 472 registered apprentices.
• The BST filled 2,675 jobs with 571 businesses in 2017.
• Last year they worked with 54 businesses to award more than $2.4 million in Skilled Trades Training Fund dollars to local businesses to allow them to train talent. More than 4,000 local workers were trained.
• This year, we are working with 54 employers to award more than $3.4 million in local employees through STTF. More than 3,800 local workers will be trained including 472 registered apprentices.
Visit www.camw.org to connect with all of the members of Capital Area Michigan Works! team for assistance with finding new training opportunities, hiring solutions and more. Capital Area Michigan Works! offers services in Ingham, Clinton and Eaton counties at our Lansing, St. Johns and Charlotte American Job Centers.
To hear the full audio interview please click on the SoundCloud PodCast shared right below!
