How can unemployed and employers get together?

Can collaboration close the gap between employers who have jobs and employees who need jobs but may not be qualified for them? Is that the real problem? 

 

Educators, economic developers, and workforce development professionals will come together May 17 to grapple with the question of why so many Michiganders are unemployed while businesses say they can't fill open positions. 

 

At a regional talent summit experts from education, economic development and workforce development will work on creating an alignment between the supply of skilled workers and the demands of employers.

 

Also at the event, Keynote speakers Senior Regional Analyst George Erickcek of the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research will provide economic and employment forecasts for the region. Erickcek's research focuses on issues of regional economic development including tax policy, economic and fiscal impacts, program evaluations, and economic development strategies and analyses.

 

The 2013 Regional Talent Summit will take place at the Fetzer Center on the campus of Western Michigan University, 2350 Business Ct., Kalamazoo. Breakfast and networking will begin at 8 a.m. with the meeting starting at 8:30 a.m. Erickcek will present at 10:25 a.m. and the summit will adjourn around noon. 

 

The event is hosted by Michigan Works! Kalamazoo and St. Joseph, Michigan Works! Barry, Branch, and Calhoun, and Kinexus.

 

Regional Talent Summits are bi-annual meetings held across the state that bring together Michigan Talent Network members to discuss talent issues. The goals of the Local Talent Summits are to: Identify areas of strength, weakness, and opportunity; Evaluate how the State can help the area reach its talent goals; and Strengthen and build partnerships.