'Career Jump Start' Program Aims To Fight Brain Drain

DETROIT (WWJ) - Matching high school graduates with the tens of thousands of job openings currently going unfilled across the state — that's the goal of the new program detailed Wednesday called "Career Jump Start."

The plan is to better promote what high-demand career paths exist in the state, along with training opportunities available.

Michigan Economic Development Corporation President Michael Finney said it's all in hope of keeping more bright young people in Michigan.

"We graduate an awful lot of very bright engineers and IT professionals and others," said Michigan Economic Development Corporation President Michael Finney, "and a big portion of those leave out state and go to other places.

"So, part of what we have to do — because of the state's comeback — is we now have to start convincing those young people who are graduating from our universities, in engineering and other disciplines, to stay here in Michigan," he said.

Finney said, at any given time, 60, 000 jobs go unfilled across the state.

"And it's everything from unskilled jobs, that are for labor-type jobs, all the way up to, you know, high-skilled jobs that require professional and technical degrees in order to be successful," he said.

Finney said the reality is that two-thirds of Michigan residents don't have four-year degrees.

But, he said, there are many occupations that are available to those with proper training.

Learn more about the program at this link.