Governor Gretchen Whitmer is a lifelong Michigander. She is a lawyer, an educator, former prosecutor, State Representative and Senator. She was the first woman to lead a Senate caucus. But the most important title she boasts is MOM. Inspired by her family, she’s devoted her life to building a stronger Michigan for everyone.
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May 01, 2025
WHEREAS, across the nation, many highly-skilled workers in a multitude of professional trades in the construction, healthcare, information technology, manufacturing, mobility, and service industries fulfill critical needs in businesses; and,
WHEREAS, the professional trades community binds our country as we rely on them to produce and repair our cars, build our electric vehicle future, install and fix plumbing, build our roads and hoes, draw our blood, care for our children while we work, and make sure our computer networks run efficiently, among many other duties; and,
WHEREAS, as Michigan’s economy continues to grow and become more competitive, it is necessary for Michigan to promote, support, and educate the people who have chosen one of many essential skilled careers; and,
WHEREAS, professional trades are in high demand in Michigan; and,
WHEREAS, professional trades will account for nearly 518,300 jobs in the Michigan economy through 2032, and approximately 40,600 job openings are expected annually in the state during that time; and,
WHEREAS, opportunities exist in a variety of in-demand and emerging industries including advanced manufacturing, construction, education, healthcare, information technology, manufacturing, mobility, and many other career fields that require a degree or certificate beyond high school; and,
WHEREAS, Michigan has a strong history of Registered Apprenticeship Programs in professional skilled trades that train the majority of Department of Labor Registered Apprentices across multiple industries; and,
WHEREAS, Michigan supports employer-led collaboratives, such as the Electric Vehicle Workforce Hub, which address the skilled talent needs of employers through strategic partnerships with workforce and industry experts, labor organizations, educational institutions, training providers, and others; and,
WHEREAS, efforts like State Apprenticeship Expansion, Sector Strategies Employer-Led Collaboratives and the Going PRO Talent Fund build on this foundation by addressing the skilled talent needs of employers and providing pathways to high-skill, high-wage, in-demand jobs for Michiganders; and,
WHEREAS, vocational rehabilitation programs through the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP), the BSBP Training Center, Michigan Rehabilitation Services and the Michigan Career and Technical Institute provide opportunities for Michiganders with disabilities to develop the skills needed to secure competitive integrated employment and economic self-sufficiency; and,
WHEREAS, the State of Michigan’s MI Trades Partnership serves as an advocate for skilled professional trades, partnering with existing programs, education providers and other stakeholders to boost awareness of, and participation in, life-changing skilled trades opportunities in the state; and,
WHEREAS, during the month of May, we join the rest of the nation in honoring those in the professional trades, showing the value of professional trades, and focusing on promoting educational opportunities and career awareness;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, and Garlin Gilchrist II, lieutenant governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim May 2025 as Professional Trades Month in Michigan.