Michigan has long been the automotive capital of the world. As we position ourselves as a leader in electric vehicle (EV) and mobility technology, the demand for a robust workforce is imperative for this cutting-edge industry to sustain and grow.
Michigan’s world-class universities produce top-notch students, gaining hands-on experience using the latest technology.
But how do we make sure they stay in Michigan?
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) has implemented several partnerships, programs and campaigns to keep talent in the Great Lakes State.
Talent Action Team
One of MEDC’s most significant talent efforts is its Electric Vehicle and Mobility Talent Action Team (TAT). This public-private collaboration between government, business and educational leaders is focused on attracting and retaining skilled workers.
According to Kerry Ebersole Singh, Executive Vice President and Chief Talent Solutions and Engagement Officer for MEDC, the TAT works with 15 major employers to analyze labor forecasts for up to five years and then builds a pipeline to feed occupational needs.
To that end, the TAT has launched a set of strategic investments to help five Michigan universities increase capacity and courses, hire additional curriculum designers and expand high school boot camps to help broaden the number of students coming into engineering programs.
Michigander EV Scholars Program
Once students graduate, the TAT helps funnel them to Michigan’s workforce and, in turn, companies eager to welcome new talent.
TAT’s Michigander EV Scholars Program is the nation’s largest-ever talent campaign, filling jobs in Michigan’s surging EV and transportation mobility sector.
The program links employers with talent pools coming out of the University of Michigan (U-M), Michigan State University (MSU) and Michigan Technological University (Michigan Tech).
If talks lead to a job offer, and a student accepts and agrees to stay in the state for 12 months, the program will give as many as 350 Michiganders up to a $10,000 scholarship.
“This has been received really well by employers,” said Ebersole Singh. “TAT sweetens the deal, especially when they are competing against employers on the East and West Coasts.”
Students are showing strong interest in entering the program as well. From March 1, when Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II announced the Michigander EV Scholars Program, through April 3, 160 students, freshman to seniors, have already joined the industry exploration and networking program across the three universities. The breakdown includes 63 U-M students, 51 MSU students and 46 Michigan Tech students.
Talent Campaign
The TAT is also working on a marketing campaign to articulate the value of working and living in Michigan. Later this year, it will extend beyond Michigan’s borders to reach homegrown talent that has left the state.
“[The campaign] will talk to Michigan expats about job opportunities available to them as well as the amazing natural resources we have,” Ebersole Singh said.
Research shows that people raised in Michigan who leave for employment elsewhere tend to return within five to seven years.
“Whether it’s for the quality of life or the value you get related to the cost of living,” said Ebersole Singh. “That’s the sweet spot when they may be ready to come home. People want to stay where they have a deep network of friends and family.”
The TAT makes it easy for expats to return by directly connecting them with employers. Once they’ve taken a position, the TAT refers them to organizations and resources, so they become embedded in the community.
Our Next Energy
According to Ebersole Singh, data shows that for CEOs, access to talent is the top differentiator when thinking about growing their business. That was the case for Our Next Energy (ONE) CEO Mujeeb Ijaz, who relocated the three-year-old energy storage manufacturer’s headquarters from Silicon Valley to Novi because of the experienced workforce. It is building a $1.6 billion state-of-the-art gigafactory in Van Buren Township and has partnered with the TAT to fill 2,000 jobs.
“The talent in batteries and battery manufacturing is largely found in Michigan. There is a great epicenter here,” said Deeana Ahmed, ONE’s Vice President of Strategy, Policy and Sustainability.
ONE is working with the TAT to continue its robust internship program, develop curricula for K-12 schools and partner with community colleges and universities to create a talent pathway.
For instance, ONE supports the Solar Car Team at the University of Michigan, engages with career development offices at Michigan Tech and MSU and partners with community college vocational training programs.
“Cell manufacturing is brand new. It’s a new frontier to invest time in incubating talent and students,” Ahmed said.
U-M Battery Lab
Among the educational facilities working with ONE is the U-M Battery Lab. Established with the support of $5 million from the MEDC and opened in late 2015, the lab has been working with academia, startups and OEMs to develop products and innovation in Michigan and train people to use the equipment and techniques required to transition to electric mobility.
More recently, the lab has become part of U-M’s College of Engineering, working to secure funding, develop coursework and conduct research on the road to electrification. They’re also up skilling and re-educating workers on cells, motors and charging infrastructure.
“The key is whatever we do we want to keep people thinking about Michigan as the automotive capital,” said Dr. Greg Less, Technical Director of U-M Battery Lab. “We’re going to keep focusing on all the resources people need to make world-class automobiles right here.”
EV Talent Drives Michigan’s Future
Michigan’s EV and mobility industries rely heavily on the talent pipeline, which is bolstered by state programs and public-private partnerships. By attracting and retaining top talent in new and innovative ways, Michigan is ingraining itself as the current and future home for emerging technologies and businesses, while prioritizing the EV industry’s growth and sustainability.
To learn more about how Michigan talent is driving the future forward, visit https://www.michiganbusiness.org/workforce/.
