Small businesses combat worker shortage with community college partners

By Bauyrzhan Zhaxylykov
Capital News Service

LANSING — Michigan small businesses continue to face worker shortages, particularly in health care, construction and technical fields where employers say hiring remains difficult.

The situation has improved since the peak labor shortages of the post-COVID-19 pandemic years of 2021 and 2022, when employers across nearly all industries struggled to find workers, said Brian Calley, the president and CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan.

However, some positions remain consistently in demand.

“Highly technical services are still difficult to fill, especially in medical, engineering and construction fields where specific skills are required,” Calley said.

Licensed occupations such as electricians and plumbers also remain challenging to fill, he added.

Read More: Getting skilled trades classes back in schools crucial to fixing shortages

“It’s very difficult to find people in those fields, especially on an emergency basis,” Calley said.

He said more emphasis on hands-on learning could help prepare future workers.

“Experiential learning is the future,” Calley said.

That approach is already happening through partnerships between community colleges and local employers.

Brandy Johnson, the president of the Michigan Community College Association, said these institutions are the state’s largest access point to workforce training and work directly with employers to design programs that respond to hiring needs.

“That includes short-term credentials, customized training and industry-aligned programs that can quickly move people into open jobs.”

One example of that approach can be seen at Schoolcraft College in Livonia, where a partnership with Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace gives students hands-on experience while helping meet workforce needs.

A 48,000-square-foot international marketplace provides learning opportunities in culinary arts, supply chain management, business, accounting and entrepreneurship programs, said Glenn Cerny, the president of Schoolcraft College.

“When you walk into the marketplace, there is a seating area where about 20 to 25 people can sit, and we can actually hold classes there while people are shopping and doing their business,” Cerny said.

“Our students get to see a real, working marketplace and interact with the owners.”

The marketplace, which opened March 11, has already involved about 200 students in training and work-based learning opportunities, Cerny said. 

About 10 students have been hired full time and another 20 to 30 have gained part-time work experience.

Cerny said the partnership benefits both students and employers.

“It’s a two-for-one story because not only are we providing employers with employees who are ready to work, but we’re giving them employees with skills because experience is a skill,” he said.

Cerny said the more experience you get in the workforce, the more valuable you become.

Programs like Schoolcraft’s reflect broader workforce training trends across the state.

Figures from the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics show that nearly 94% of people who completed registered apprenticeships in 2022 were employed in Michigan within one year, with median annual earnings of about $80,700.

To support such outcomes, the state is expanding programs that connect apprenticeship training with college credentials.

Johnson said, “Michigan is building momentum in this space through the Michigan College Credit for Apprenticeships Program, which translates apprenticeship learning into college credit and clearer education pathways.” 

She said the goal is to build a system where apprenticeship training is recognized across colleges and applied toward certificates or degrees in high-demand fields.

Despite such efforts, challenges remain, experts say.

Capacity and awareness are often barriers. Small employers may not have the time or resources to navigate training partnerships, and students aren’t always aware of such opportunities or how to access them.

Advocates say addressing those challenges is essential because small businesses play a crucial role in keeping Michigan’s economy competitive.

According to the Statewide Workforce Plan, more than 900,000 small businesses employ about 1.9 million people across the state.