Michigan ranks #1 nationally in adult credential attainment and serves more job seekers than any other Midwest state

New report highlights Michigan’s work to grow businesses, support talent and strengthen communities

LANSING, Mich. — Michigan helps more people access employment services than any other state in the Midwest, leads the nation in adult credential attainment and ranks #3 nationally for helping adults get jobs. These are among the highlights in the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s (LEO) 2024 Employment and Training Annual Report which was released today.

The report shows how workforce programs across the state are supporting business growth, strengthening communities and helping attract and keep talent to fill in-demand jobs.

LEO’s Office of Employment and Training works closely with Adult Education providers, Community Rehabilitation Programs, the Michigan Works! network and other partners to offer support and services to individuals and businesses across the state. Their Bureau of Services for Blind Persons, Michigan Rehabilitation Services and Workforce Development served more than 346,000 individuals and 7,928 Michigan businesses in 2024.

“Building a strong, inclusive economy starts with ensuring every Michigander has access to opportunity,” said LEO Director Susan Corbin. “That’s why the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons, Michigan Rehabilitation Services and Workforce Development are so vital. Their collaborative efforts help break down barriers to employment and open doors for individuals of all abilities. Together, we’re creating a workforce where everyone can contribute, succeed and thrive.”

According to the report, nearly 200,000 participants in Employment and Training programs secured employment in 2024, with more than 84,000 individuals receiving employment-related training and about 27,700 earning industry-recognized credentials.

“Our work within the Office of Employment and Training plays a critical role in delivering customized workforce solutions that help create brighter futures for all Michiganders, including individuals with disabilities,” said Stephanie Beckhorn, Deputy Director of LEO’s Office of Employment and Training. “These efforts are helping Michiganders achieve financial security, empowering businesses to grow and strengthen communities across our state. But our work doesn’t stop here. We remain committed to innovation and continuous improvement so everyone has the opportunity to succeed and make it in Michigan.”

Helping Michiganders with Disabilities Achieve Success

To support Michiganders with disabilities and the businesses that employ them, Employment and Training provides vocational rehabilitation services through the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons and Michigan Rehabilitation Services. In 2024, Michigan led the nation for helping vocational rehabilitation customers get employed — and our state’s vocational rehabilitation customers have the highest earnings in the country.

The Bureau of Services for Blind Persons helps individuals who are blind or visually impaired to define their goals, recommend adaptive equipment or software, and identify appropriate training and services to achieve employment and independence. In addition, they offer the Business Enterprise Program that provides blind persons the opportunity to operate food service businesses in state and federal buildings and rest stops, and the Braille and Talking Book Library, which provides books in braille and audio formats to Michigan residents — specially designed for individuals who are blind, visually impaired or physically unable to hold or read standard print books.

Bureau of Services for Blind Persons’ accomplishments in 2024 include:

• 1,517 individuals served
• 1,079 Michiganders trained
• 625,607 audiobooks disseminated
• $8.4 million gross sales for Business Enterprise Program operators

Michigan Rehabilitation Services develops customized workforce and training solutions for businesses and individuals with disabilities to engage and prepare for employment to achieve economic self-sufficiency. MRS is a part of the Michigan Interagency Transition Team, a state-level, cross-agency collaborative infrastructure that aligns supports and services to ensure a seamless transition for all students with disabilities in the K-12 system (up to age 26) into adult life.

Michigan Rehabilitation Services’ 2024 accomplishments include:

• 43,173 individuals served
• 5,149 businesses served
• 6,683 customers trained
• 6,369 customers employed

Supporting Workers and Businesses in an Ever-Changing Economy

Workforce Development removes barriers and provides supports to help people find their first job, their next job or another job and engages employers to help them meet their needs and grow. To accomplish this, Workforce Development supports a demand driven workforce system, assists the structurally unemployed with financial independence, advocates for the integration of workforce development into the K-12 school system, and supports the alignment of workforce development with economic development efforts.

Workforce Development programs — which include Adult Education, the Going PRO Talent Fund and Registered Apprenticeships, among many others — achieved several accomplishments in 2024:

• 301,533 individuals served
• 2,669 businesses served
• 76,512 Michiganders trained
• 193,280 Michiganders employed

These programs support the Statewide Workforce Plan to help more Michiganders earn skills certificates or degrees, increase opportunities to grow the middle class and grow businesses to make Michigan a top 10 state for labor force participation.

For more information about LEO’s Office of Employment and Training and other resources, visit https://www.michigan.gov/leo/employment-and-training.

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