Michigan

The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Employment and Training (LEO-E&T), together with Credential Engine, is making it easier for Michiganders to learn about credentials that lead to high-demand, high-paying jobs in the state. The collaboration means that opportunity seekers will be able to access and understand growing information about the nearly 13,000 degree programs, certification courses, apprenticeship, and other education and job training opportunities available in Michigan. Data published to the Credential Registry is incorporated into state systems and websites to assist state leaders to make decisions that help workers, employers, and training providers mobilize a workforce that is ready for the challenges of the future.  

As LEO-E&T moved to make information about credentials in the state more accessible and easier to understand, it has pursued relationships with organizations that provide financial support for full transparency. The project was built into the LEO-E&T proposal to the U.S. Department of Labor, Workforce Development Quality Initiative grant opportunity in 2019.

Additionally, other national workforce development grants require states to make information about all credentials publicly accessible through linked open data formats such as the CTDL. Credential Engine assisted Michigan in meeting the requirements for credential transparency in its Reimagine Workforce Preparation grants from the U.S. Department of Education. This Michigan Learning and Education Advancement Program (MiLEAP), which was a recipient of those grants, helps Michigan job seekers make the leap from education and training to employment by delivering short- and mid-term customized training solutions. 

Using a common data infrastructure for these types of grants also helped advance credential transparency in critical industries for these types of grants also helps advance credential transparency in critical industries, such as healthcare. Michigan Rural Enhanced Access to Careers in Healthcare (MiREACH), the state’s efforts to address critical workforce shortages in healthcare fields in 57 rural counties in the state, were also supported.

Michigan has published more than 300 training providers and over 3,600 credentials to the Credential Registry.