FAQs

The Michigan Works! System is on the front lines meeting the talent demands of local employers, and ready to respond to the unique needs of each community. The System is made-up of 25 regional Michigan Works! Agencies, focusing on the needs of job makers and developing talent for the 21st Century economy. Michigan Works! partners with community partners to meet the diverse needs of all customers. While Michigan Works! agencies have the ability to participate in the same statewide programs and services, different MW! agencies may focus more strongly on some programs than others, based on what specific services/programs are in demand locally per region. While each agency operates as a separate entity, all share several fundamental qualities:

• Locally-responsive and demand driven
• Governed by a workforce Development Board compromised of private sector representatives and Local Elected Officials
• Provide services to help businesses find the skilled they need, and provide a competitive advantage for job seekers

West Michigan Works! serves employers and job seekers in Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, and Ottawa counties. The region has a population based of 1.3 million and includes the city of Grand Rapids, the second largest city in the state. It is home to several economic development agencies and a strong network of educational institutions: seven ISDs, three community colleges, 11 colleges, and universities.

West Michigan Works! Business Solutions provides a variety of services to help businesses attract, train, and retain a skilled workforce for today and the future.

• We have access to the largest talent pool in Michigan and can help you find candidates that match your employment needs, no matter the level or skill set.
• We offer a wide range of Human Resource services such as wage research, recruitment, pre-hire assessments and employer events.
• Through a variety of state and federal programs, we are able to provide a number of training options to help you develop a strong, skilled and educated workforce.

West Michigan Works! is a part of the statewide Michigan Works! system, serving employers and job seekers in Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Montcalm, Muskegon, and Ottawa counties. A key role of the public workforce system is to provide businesses with the tools they need to hire and train qualified workers. There are an array of services available to local employers at no cost, including access to training grants and recruitment tools. To learn more about the services and extended programs available through West Michigan Works! contact the Business Solutions team at business@westmiworks.org.

Pure Michigan Talent Connect is the state of Michigan’s web-based talent matchmaking site and central hub for talent, employers and educators. With over 80,000 available opportunities, Pure Michigan Talent Connect helps Michigan job seekers find work and employers find talent. The site features information and resources that give job creators the tools necessary to help identify and develop their talent base and job seekers career exploration tools and the ability to create a personalized plan to help them find new jobs and effectively navigate career searches.

The Veterans Networking Job Club (VNJC) meets the third Thursday of every month (except December) from 10 - 11:30 a.m. VNJC provides an opportunity for veterans seeking employment and employers committed to hiring our nation’s heroes to come together. For veterans, this is a great opportunity to meet with fellow veterans, employers, educators and Veteran Service Reps; learn new skills and discuss career opportunities. ​For employers, it’s a good way to recruit motivated veterans who have the skills, discipline and focus that you’re looking for. Visit vnjc.org to learn more and register.

While a job seeker may go to either a West Michigan Works! service center or an employment agency to seek employment, the two organizations can vary greatly in the services they provide, how they’re funded, and the type of employment they offer. One of the biggest differences is that West Michigan Works! offers a variety of free employment services to job seekers, including job preparedness services such as resume assistance, interview prep, career counseling and more, whereas employment/temp agencies charge for these services, if they even offer them at all. We work with many job seekers seeking to further their education by helping them obtain classroom training, get tuition assistance via state/government programs, and even get into on-the-job training programs to increase their skillset and become more employable. A skilled workforce is an employable workforce, which benefits the job seekers and the employers. Employment agencies are paid by the employers who they fill positions for, so their client is truly the employer, not the job seeker, whereas West Michigan Works! operates on state/federal funding for their programs/services. To continue to receive funding and ensure operations, WMW! must meet performance measures, which is incentive to treat both job seeker and employer as our client. Employment agencies often hire for temporary positions, but WMW! aims for direct long-term job placement. We create partnerships with employers to develop recruiting and retention strategies. We can work with job seekers throughout their career to help them expand their skillset and continue to move up in their career.