Michigan food and agriculture workforce has new resource hub

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on Oct. 26 launched a new resource, the Michigan Food, and Agriculture: Strategic Employment Planning hub.

This hub is a critical resource providing education and awareness in strategic employment planning for individuals currently employed or looking to work in Michigan’s diverse and expanding food and agriculture workforce.

“Michigan is home to one of the nation’s most robust agriculture industries, and I’m excited to see our industry grow and advance. With growth comes the opportunity to employ more Michiganders,” Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Gary McDowell said in a news release. “MDARD continues to be at the forefront of solving challenges facing our workforce and increasing access to new employment strategies. This website is a one-stop-shop for resources that employers, employees, and educators can use to highlight the many avenues within agriculture, including everything from technological innovations to more traditional farming.”

The hub allows interested job seekers to learn about the different sectors and the tools to help grow your career in Michigan’s expanding food and agriculture industry. This includes the opportunity to learn more about career pathways, that might align with their goals, and help connect interested individuals to potential employers within the agricultural sector.

Through the website, agricultural employers will be able to customize a strategy to seek and recruit workers. Additionally, this resource allows employers to build branding, utilize competitive data, and recruit talent. This resource also includes an ‘Employer Hiring Needs’ form for employers to assist with data collection for solutions to be created within standard metrics. Using data as a portion of how solutions are designed allows for a better environment for employers and employees.

This hub also allows educators to expand knowledge and interest in Michigan’s food and agriculture industry. Educators can find curriculum resources for educators of all levels, elementary, middle, high school, and post-high school, providing meaningful materials to integrate into a food and agriculture science curriculum.

“This new online resource shows the state’s commitment to the prosperity of Michigan’s workforce while providing easy avenues for employers and employees to come together,” said Susan Corbin, Director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. “As we continue Michigan’s economic jumpstart, we must empower our workforce to look into new opportunities central to Michigan’s economy like agriculture and ensure employers can recruit for these careers putting Michiganders first.”

For more information, visit here.