There will be more than a half million professional trade career openings in Michigan between now and 2026. That’s a lot of jobs, and the catch is letting students and job seekers in Detroit, Southeast Michigan and elsewhere in the state easily find out about them.

With that in mind the Talent and Economic Development Department of Michigan (TED) has created a one-stop way where those interested can learn about the high-demand, high-wage career opportunities in Professional Trades. Its rejuvenated website, Going-PRO.com, is geared to make it easy to learn about those careers, take dive deep into the data, and get connected to some great opportunities.

Professional Trades include careers in healthcare, information technology, advanced manufacturing, construction and automotive sectors. And with 545,000 career openings through 2026 and 47,000 new job openings expected annually, Professional Trades employees will be needed for years to come. These are good paying jobs with opportunities for advancement and personal satisfaction.

“As students and jobseekers are exploring career opportunities in the Great Lakes State, it’s important they consider the rewarding and good-paying careers in the Professional Trades,” says Roger Curtis, TED director. “This new website is designed to drive awareness and consideration among students and jobseekers on these high-demand careers.

“It’s also about challenging the dated perceptions of these trades and making sure Michigan’s young people understand these are not the dirty-shop-floor jobs of the past. These are high-tech and rewarding careers leading the way in innovation here in Michigan,” he says.

The updated site will be provided to all Michigan school districts during the 2018-19 school year, with rollouts being planned through October 2018 at schools in Gladwin, Hillsdale, metro Detroit, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Muskegon, Caro, Cadillac and Alpena.

While the site’s target audience is primarily middle and high school students, it can also benefit people of all ages seeking new opportunities in a high-demand, high-wage field, according to Lt. Governor Brian Calley.

“Perhaps the most important aspect of this site is its mobile friendliness,” Curtis says. “We want to make this a great experience for our young people. So reaching them where they are – on their phones – is a must. It also makes the information portable.”

The new site features:

• Professional Trades career salaries and job growth data
• Local schools and training facilities to get started in a Professional Trades career.
• A Day in the Life series, highlighting professionals in their careers explaining what it’s like and how they got there

To learn more about A Day In the Life check out this video.

“Professional Trades let you leverage your talents, work ethic, and know-how to do things that truly matter to you, your neighbors and all of Michigan. It’s a tremendous career path to consider.” says Calley.

Learn more about Ted please visit michigan.gov/ted.

  finding a job in Michigan, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan Land Bank Fast Track Authority, Michigan State Housing Development Authority, Michigan Strategic Fund, open jobs in Michigan, Professional Trade jobs in Michigan, Talent and Economic Development Department of Michigan. TED, Talent Investment Agency