Jobs

President Joe Biden traveled to Michigan Tuesday to pitch his Build Back Better and infrastructure plans to swing-state voters in a politically critical region. His destination was a union hall in Howell. Rick Pluta reports. 

For over 60 years, the St. Louis Center in Chelsea has housed those with developmental disabilities and helped them find employment and work toward independence. Yet, like many nonprofit organizations, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the center financially and emotionally. The center's chief operations officer, Deana Fisher, joins WEMU's David Fair to discuss how her establishment and its residents have adapted to the pandemic.

President Joe Biden is preparing an extensive bill to improve infrastructure and create jobs.  12th District Representative Debbie Dingell advocates passage of the plan.  The Dearborn Democrat joined WEMU's David Fair and also discussed proposed gun control measures and the alarming surge in the number of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations. 

Navigating the workforce is never easy, which is why organizations like Michigan Works! Southeast (MWSE) are there to help.  MSWE executive director Shamar Herron has taken that mission to a new level with a podcast called "Workplace@Work."  Herron joined WEMU's David Fair and Concentrate Media's Sarah Rigg to discuss the training and employment oppotunities in our area that already exist. 

Washtenaw Community College will hold an event later this month to help residents find jobs during the pandemic.  

Michigan lost more than a million jobs from March to April, largely due to COVID-19 related layoffs.  As we hear from Rick Pluta, that led to a record-setting 22.7% state unemployment rate.

The Ann Arbor Ypsilanti Regional Chamber hosted a luncheon in Ypsilanti on Monday to discuss ways it can help improve workforce and economic development in Washtenaw County.  89.1 WEMU's Jorge Avellan was there and has the story.

A state lawmaker wants to make sure Michigan doesn't have any privately run prisons.  Michigan Public Radio Network's Cheyna Roth has more.

Some Democrats running for President say the last election wasn’t a fair contest and made that point at last night’s debate in Detroit.  We have more from Rick Pluta.

Michigan’s unemployment rate remained unchanged last month. That’s according to the latest jobless numbers compiled by the state.   We have details from Rick Pluta.

Michigan dairy farmers are getting a $510 million boost.  Two new dairy processing facilities are scheduled to be built in St. Johns, north of Lansing.  The plants are expected to create more than 250 new jobs.

For those who have served time in prison, landing a job is an incredibly difficult task.  Fortunately, the organization Michigan Works! Southeast has provided opportunities to clean up criminal records and get people back in the workplace.  In this week's "On the Ground-Ypsi," WEMU's Patrick Campion and Concentrate Media's Brianna Kelly talk about a recent expungement fair with Michigan Works! Southeast career advisor Herb Fluker and Walter Griffin, who has benefitted from this event.

A lot of people work are working hard to make sure you never know they are there.  They work lighting, costuming, sound, stage maintenance, and projection at the film and live events you attend.  It is an important component of the area's cultural sector and the focus on this week's "creative:impact" on 89,1 WEMU. 

Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow says getting high speed internet to rural communities in Michigan is a priority for her.

The retail giant Amazon is looking for a second home.  And that could mean thousands of jobs, and a new economic anchor for a city.  But cities like Denver and Atlanta are competing, but as we hear from Rick Pluta, leaders in some smaller cities think they have a shot – if only they can get Amazon’s attention.

Governor Rick Snyder has signed bills to create new business incentives in hopes of luring some very large employers to Michigan.

Michigan’s monthly jobless rate has dropped to its lowest rate in 17 years.  But, that has more to do with fewer people looking for work than new hiring.

The online giant Amazon is getting millions of dollars from Michigan to build a new performance center. 

Hundreds of job hunters and potential employers will meet at Eastern Michigan University tomorrow for the school's annual Teacher Job Fair.

Having a job in Michigan doesn’t mean you can make ends meet.  That’s the message of a new report released by the Michigan Association of United Ways.

Nearly 10,000 new jobs could be added to Washtenaw County's economy over the next year.

Lawmakers could be making changes to Governor Rick Snyder’s mission to scale back the use of tax incentives to attract jobs and investment.  Two packages of bills offering incentives to businesses passed in the Senate Tuesday.

Predictions for the future of Michigan's economy remain upbeat, despite political uncertainty in Washington, according to a University of Michigan report.

Michigan’s monthly jobless rate has edged upward -- not because more people have lost jobs, but because more people are looking for work.  

Michigan’s monthly job rate has dropped slightly.  But it’s not because more people are working.  

The announced sale of property at a historic Ypsilanti Township facility will help move the community forward in many ways.

Michigan’s monthly unemployment rate has dropped to 4.7%.  That’s the lowest it’s been in 15 years.   

The Ford Motor Company is trying to help match local veterans with meaningful jobs.  

The Summer 16 Youth Employment Program in Washtenaw County closed its enrollment after only two weeks because of high demand.