By Karen Helfrick, Business Services Program Administrator, and Cris Robson, Youth Program Administrator
In today’s competitive labor market, businesses are constantly looking for ways to build a reliable workforce. Traditional hiring methods, such as posting a job description and waiting for the right resume to come along, don’t always deliver the results employers need, leaving businesses facing skills gaps and employee turnover.
Building a sustainable workforce isn’t just about waiting for talent to enter the job market. It’s about helping develop that talent.
At Macomb/St. Clair Michigan Works!, we help local businesses take a proactive approach to workforce development. One way we do this is by connecting employers with motivated young professionals through work-based training (WBT), which provides opportunities to gain practical, hands-on experience in real workplace settings. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, WBT offers flexible opportunities that help companies attract, develop, and retain emerging talent in ways that work for their businesses.
Raise your profile and connect with future talent
Before you can hire great talent, the next generation needs to know who you are. Building a talent pipeline starts with creating awareness, often through activities that require minimal time and resources from your team.
Whether it’s hosting a company tour, speaking at a local school, or conducting mock interviews, these activities allow your business to connect with motivated young people before they enter the workforce. They also help introduce your organization to potential future employees while building relationships within the community.
Bridge the classroom and the workplace
For employers looking to provide more hands-on experiences, direct engagement gives students an opportunity to put what they’ve learned into practice while allowing your team to share its knowledge and expertise.
Through short job shadows, ongoing industry mentorship, or brief, real-world projects, employers can introduce young people to their industries and workplace expectations. These experiences also give managers opportunities to develop their coaching and supervisory skills.
Meanwhile, participants gain hands-on exposure that goes beyond the classroom, helping build a pool of potential employees who already have some understanding of how your business operates.
Bring talent into your business with financial support
When you’re ready to bring young adults into your workplace, training and onboarding costs don’t have to be a barrier. Supported work-based training opportunities can help offset these expenses:
- Paid work experience (PWE): Worksite placements that offer up to 100% subsidized wages and workers’ compensation coverage.
- On-the-job training (OJT): Training opportunities that offer a 50% wage subsidy for businesses looking to make permanent hires.
Together, these options give employers opportunities to train and evaluate potential employees while reducing some of the financial costs associated with developing new talent.
Become the community’s “employer of choice”
In a competitive labor market, your reputation matters. Businesses that actively engage with their communities can build greater awareness of their organizations and the career opportunities they offer.
Whether you participate as an interactive exhibitor at regional events, join a panel discussion, or support local workforce initiatives, public-facing engagement puts your company and its leadership in front of students, parents, and educators.
These connections can help make your business one that young people recognize and consider when they’re ready to enter the workforce.
Get started today
You don’t have to transform your entire operation overnight. The key to successful work-based training is to start small and expand your involvement as your business grows. Whether that means hosting a single student for a company tour or developing a paid work experience pipeline, Macomb/St. Clair Michigan Works! is here to help.
Looking ahead? Recruitment is underway for the 2027 Summer Jobs Program. Partnering early gives your business an opportunity to connect with motivated young talent through supported work experiences and guidance from our team.
Ready to explore which work-based training opportunities fit your business goals or get involved in summer 2027? Complete the Youth Engagement Interest Form to connect with our team and start building your future talent pipeline.