October 9, 2006

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth (DLEG) today announced the launch of two websites designed to address the supply and demand of health professionals in Michigan and to improve access to healthcare workforce related information and resources.

“The healthcare industry is crucial to Michigan’s health, well-being, and economic stability,” said Janet Olszewski, MDCH Director. “As the demand for health professionals grow, the Health Careers website serves as a great starting point for those interested in pursuing a career in healthcare.”

“These two sites work together to provide the most current healthcare industry workforce information,” said Robert W. Swanson, DLEG Director. “Through our partnership with MDCH and leaders in healthcare and education, we will continue to address workforce shortages to ensure we have a skilled workforce available for Michigan employers.”

The Health Careers website, www.michigan.gov/healthcareers, provides comprehensive information on various healthcare related fields of employment, licensing requirements, and the skills and education required to pursue a career in healthcare. The site also lists which healthcare related certificates and degrees various Michigan colleges and universities offer. It offers video profiles on more than 40 healthcare positions and information on in-demand occupations.

The Michigan Healthcare Workforce Center website, www.michigan.gov/mhwc, serves as a clearinghouse for information and data regarding healthcare workforce development at the state and national level. The site offers information on statewide workforce initiatives, data on supply trends, and provides links to employment and educational resources. Given current and anticipated workforce shortages, access to this information greatly facilitates the identification and implementation of strategies to address those shortages.”

Michigan has placed a high priority on bringing new people into the healthcare industry while retaining the current healthcare workforce. Healthcare is Michigan’s leading job provider and the industry holds great potential for current and future employees with over 200 different jobs in the healthcare field. The demand for health professionals will continue to increase dramatically as the use of technology accelerates and the population continues to live longer.