Help put Michigan back to work by hiring a recent grad or a returning vet
Michigan's powerful are meeting on Mackinac Island this week.
The annual watering hole gathering of Michigan’s top civic, business, labor, education, government, political and foundation elite began Tuesday and runs through Thursday.
The 2012 Detroit Regional Chamber's Mackinac Policy Conference will draw up to 1,500 of Michigan’s “movers and shakers" to the island famous for its fudge and its ban on motor vehicles. They will eat, drink and mingle on the world's largest porch at the Grand Hotel to gab about the state's problems and opportunities.
The view from the porch at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island where the Detroit Regional Chamber's 2012 Mackinac Policy Conference is being held this week.
Courtesy photo
Henry Ford once said, “Before everything else, getting ready is the secret of success.” Ford was right and the business community has a responsibility to help ready our state and nation by helping to put people back to work.
Today, we live in a fast-paced, disruptive, transformational, technologically-driven, knowledge economy where ideas and jobs can and do move around the globe effortlessly. Michigan lost nearly a million jobs in the previous decade and we need to accelerate the hiring process to get Michigan working again.
There is a Chinese proverb that says, “Don’t curse the darkness, light the candle.”
So rather than cursing the lack of employees, consider hiring and training the unemployed vet, high school or college grad actively looking for work.
By hiring, training and mentoring, we will be lighting the way to the future. Putting someone to work not only puts money and experience in their pocket, it also benefits our entire community.
During the most recent economic downturn, many people have been deprived of the opportunity to be employed through no fault of their own.
But as the economy picks up steam, if businesses were to make a concerted effort to hire, collectively it could make a huge difference for them and our state and country.
With massive deficits at the local and federal levels, it is unlikely that governments will fill the void to create youth employment opportunities. It is time for businesses to step up hiring.
“Don’t find fault, find a remedy” is another Henry Ford quote we might all be wise to follow.
Today, we have the power to prepare our future workforce while strengthening our communities and state.
Tom Watkins is a former state mental health director and state superintendent of schools for Michigan. He currently works as a U.S./China business and educational consultant. He can be reached at: tdwatkins88@gmail.com.
Comments
xmo
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 10:12 p.m.
Sounds like they are discriminating against the 55 and over crowd. Who have higher unemployment rate. "A commitment to hire a young college or high school grad, a laid off worker or a returning vet."
Ken Beedle
Thu, May 31, 2012 : 11:25 a.m.
As usual Tom, well said.
Kelsey Trabue
Wed, May 30, 2012 : 4:27 a.m.
Thanks for posting this! My name is Kelsey and I just recently graduated with a MA in Interactive Media. It's encouraging to know that you also want businesses to hire recent grads, but it would be great to see and read about examples of this actually happening, kind of like "success stories." It's a tough world out there to find a job. I went to school in North Carolina and decided to move back to Michigan after graduation, knowing that the job seeking process would be difficult, but I'm ready to take on the challenge because I love Michigan so much and call it home. Michigan has a plethora of educated folk, however, we don't have a access to a lot of jobs. And if we do, the competition is steep. If you are hiring, I would suggest selecting us recently graduated students, even if we don't have the job experience. We just got out of rigorous programs and are willing to learn (because we just did a lot of that) and work hard, for also less money. How much more sense can that make? Seems like a no-brainer to me. If you are hiring, this is not a plea, but a simple suggestion to check out my portfolio at www.kelseytrabue.com. My passions are social media, multimedia design, and digital strategy.
Townie
Tue, May 29, 2012 : 11:22 p.m.
More empty rhetoric from someone trying to pump up their name from afar. The Mackinac conference is just another phony conference with more empty rhetoric... I'm still waiting for something other than 'let's cut taxes for businesses' from Synder but I recognize it's the only tune he can hum (and knows).
Veracity
Tue, May 29, 2012 : 11:11 p.m.
I doubt that the jobs will be created an any meaningful numbers until after the election, no matter what the outcome. Governor Snyder and the Republican state legislature can do a lot to prepare for increasing employment after November. First, a state-wide job computer bank can be created with every Michigan employer who has a job to offer providing pertinent information regarding worker qualifications (that is, education, experience, personal attributes, locality of employment). Secondly, a state-wide worker availability computer bank can be created which includes each individual's employment qualifications (that is, education, experience, personal attributes, and willingness to relocate). Done properly computer matching can fill more job vacancies and reduce the unemployment numbers. Individuals who can not match for a job vacancy immediately may be able acquire education and job experience that will target specific available jobs. Hopefully, employers and state education facilities will become more involved in upgrading potential employee education and skills to allow more qualifications for jobs.
tim
Tue, May 29, 2012 : 11:08 p.m.
Or hire anyone else who is qualified -- has a family to support, and is unemployed or under employed.
Terrin
Tue, May 29, 2012 : 9:55 p.m.
Henry Ford was a good leader in his day. He understood his customers needed to work to buy his product. However, your overall conclusion seems odd. Why must one just hire recent grads or returning vets? How about all the other qualified people who were let go from jobs?
GoNavy
Tue, May 29, 2012 : 10:51 p.m.
Well stated. A job is a job is a job, especially to somebody who needs it.