With approximately 35,000 annual openings in the professional trades projected through the year 2032, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joins the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) to proclaim May as Professional Trades Month. The annual observance honors hard-working Michiganders in professional trades while encouraging students and adults to explore education and career opportunities leading to high-wage, in-demand careers.

“Michigan is working hard to help more people get the skills they need for good-paying jobs,” said Governor Whitmer. “Professionals in the trades build and maintain the infrastructure that keeps our communities running, from roads and bridges to water treatment plants. This Professional Trades Month, I encourage every Michigander to explore programs like Going PRO, Michigan Reconnect, and the Community College Guarantee that can help them get the skills they need for success. We’ve made historic investments in career and technical education and created over 23,000 good-paying apprenticeships. Let’s keep working together to support the trades and help more workers ‘make it’ in Michigan.”

Professional trades careers are essential to Michigan's economic strength. Businesses across Michigan need highly skilled workers in sectors such as agriculture, construction, education, energy, healthcare, hospitality, information technology, manufacturing, mobility and outdoor recreation. Many businesses rely on skilled workers to fill a wide range of professional trades roles that offer Michiganders a rewarding career opportunity with good wages.

“Professional Trades Month gives us the opportunity to encourage more Michiganders to discover the high‑skill, high‑demand careers that keep our communities strong, support local industries, and offer residents real pathways to stable, fulfilling lives,” said LEO Director Susan Corbin. “LEO is proud to champion this work through programs that expand access for Michiganders pursuing career pathways that lead to economic prosperity and brighter futures.”

In 2024, 393,000 Michiganders were employed in professional trades occupations, a 14.4% increase from 2020. Many of these high-demand, high-wage careers do not require a four-year degree and have pathways that focus on credentials, certificates, on-the-job training and Registered Apprenticeships.

“A career in the professional trades can be empowering and rewarding, especially for Michiganders who want good-paying, in-demand careers that allow them to support their families,” said LEO Workforce Development Director Krista Johnson. “Through training initiatives such as Registered Apprenticeships, pathways into the professional trades are attainable, meaningful opportunities that give Michigan workers flexibility, stability and greater independence.”

State Apprenticeship Expansion is an innovative approach to help prepare Michigan’s future workforce. Registered Apprenticeships are career training programs in which apprentices gain paid work experience, related classroom instruction and a national industry-recognized credential upon program completion. One year after completing training, Registered Apprentices in Michigan earn a median annual salary of nearly $90,000.

There are several programs and resources that support career awareness and exploration for those interested in pursuing a new or different professional opportunity. 

The State of Michigan’s official career exploration resource, Pathfinder, allows users to explore careers and identify educational opportunities throughout the state. Pathfinder helps Michiganders make informed choices about educational and career options and plans to reach their goals. This free online tool uses current labor market information, wage data and other metrics to best match users and their skills with career paths and jobs. 

Those ready to find their first, next or another job, should visit Pure Michigan Talent Connect, the state’s online platform for connecting job seekers and employers, to create a free account and connect with employers who have immediate needs.

LEO and the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics have also created valuable resources to help Michiganders follow career and labor trends. These include Michigan’s Hot 50 report, which covers high-wage, in-demand careers that show a favorable mix of long-term job growth, projected annual job openings, and median wages; Michigan’s Career Outlook report, which provides multiple lists of in-demand occupations by education and training requirements; and Regional Career Outlook reports, which provide breakdowns of career outlook data in each of the state’s 10 regions. 

The contributions of professional trades workers will play a significant role in the implementation of the recently-announced the Michigan Statewide Infrastructure Workforce Plan, a framework for creating and enhancing job opportunities and training programs to meet Michigan's critical infrastructure needs.

Professional Trades Month supports the Michigan Statewide Workforce Plan aimed at building upon our state’s existing successes in workforce development by providing clear, shared strategies that have the scale and reach to make a meaningful impact.

Visit LEO’s Employment and Training website to learn more about programs and resources available to help Michiganders connect to career opportunities.