Displaying items tagged: Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity

Talent gaps and workforce shortages are two issues that have dogged the manufacturing industry for years, pushing Michigan companies and their supporting organizations to develop a more robust talent pipeline in Michigan.

Here is the MiBiz Growth Report for November 8, 2020.

Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Director Jeff Donofrio is resigning his government position to take the helm at Business Leaders for Michigan, the state’s business roundtable.

Michigan leads the nation in the number of employees participating in work sharing, a program that allows partially laid off employees to continue working while still qualifying for a portion of unemployment benefits.

GRAND RAPIDS — A food vendor at Gerald R. Ford International Airport has notified state officials that 84 temporary furloughs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic may become permanent layoffs by Oct. 15.

State officials have announced a program to boost pandemic safety awareness as well as potentially take enforcement action over noncompliance within the service industry.

State officials announced a new $8.55 million grant program today that will help cover employers’ costs related to COVID-19 protective equipment.

The number of Michigan companies using work sharing has spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic but the state program meant to avoid layoffs still represents relatively few participants compared to the number of workers fully unemployed.

Another 219,000 Michigan residents filed unemployment claims last week as the state’s total exceeds 1 million amid the economic fallout of the coronavirus.

Many businesses are grappling with labor issues amid a stay-home order issued by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to help curb the spread of COVID-19.

Unemployment claims in Michigan have increased 1,500 percent following the widespread closure of food and entertainment businesses to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Michigan unemployment claims have increased 550 percent since the state ordered service industry businesses to largely close down to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.