LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – WalletHub released a national employment report on Wednesday listing the rankings of the 50 states and which ones are the most attractive for job seekers. Michigan came in at #24 in the overall rankings. They scored #24 in the job market rankings and #30 in economic environment.

There were many metrics involved with the analysis. WalletHub’s methodology included the jobs market which accounted for 60% of the score and included things like job opportunities, employment growth, unemployment rate, employment outlook, job satisfaction, retirement access, availability of internships, and worker protections. It also included economic environment which listed annual incomes, starting salaries, commute times, tax credits, commute time and state income tax burdens.

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Neighboring states Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio actually fared worse than Michigan and were #29 overall (Wisconsin), #37 (Indiana), and #40 (Ohio). The top three states in the rankings were Washington, Vermont and New Hampshire.

Currently, Michigan is sitting at a 3.7% unemployment rate for the month of October according to the Michigan Dept of Technology, Management and Budget.

Wayne Rourke, Associate Director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives said, “Michigan regional labor markets displayed little change during October. Payroll jobs advance modestly in most metro areas over the month.”

With job openings and staff shortages all over Michigan in municipal governments, hospitals, schools, restaurants and about every other private and public sector area of the economy, finding a job seems like it would be an easy task but often that job isn’t in the field that workers want to work in or paying the salary that they need during this difficult inflationary period.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s answer to the problem is to invest in Michigan’s prisoner population. Currently, Governor Whitmer is focusing on “justice involved citizens” to help them find and keep jobs in Michigan.

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The Michigan Dept. of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) announced on Wednesday a $7.6 million federal grant to launch a new initiative designed to reduce recidivism among justice involved citizens and increase their successful participation in employment and training opportunities.

According to the department’s press release, “LEO’s Office of Employment and Training will implement the Michigan Citizen Reentry Initiative (MiCRI) which initially will expand in-reach services – including individual needs evaluations, soft skills training, workplace skills development, job search skills and employment retention strategies – to hundreds of inmates at the Milan Federal Correctional institution who are nearing release from prison. MiCRI will ensure those individuals will continue to receive employment, training, and supportive services when they move to residential reentry centers in other parts of the state.

Governor Whitmer said about the program, ”The Michigan Citizen Reentry Initiative will help Michiganders find opportunity so they can support themselves, their families, and local small businesses. MiCRI’s approach will help reduce recidivism by providing meaningful, individualized support to Michiganders as they reenter the workforce, and it will help employers fill critical job openings across the state to ensure we can continue growing our economy. These grants will make a real difference in people’s lives, and I will work with anyone to empower every Michigander to pursue their potential.”

Whitmer’s “MI New Economy” plan identifies a lack of workers, particularly skilled workers, among the biggest economic challenges facing the state of Michigan. Even though the unemployment rate is below average, the state’s labor participation rate is worse, trailing the nation since December of 2001.