ProGov21 Policy Library

State policymakers consistently neglect adequately funding adult education, making it less accessible for low-skilled workers who want to build their skills, become financially self-sufficient and contribute to Michigan’s economy. Adult education is the key to preparing these workers...

Nearly half of working age Detroiters do not have the essential foundational skills necessary to get a job or succeed in a career. At the same time, the need for strong foundational skills is growing. Detroit’s emerging economic comeback means that the number of jobs is growing, and...

Latinos are the fastest-growing segment of America's population, though many lack the necessary skills and education to meet the demands of industry and earn family sustaining wages. This report provides recommendations that can be taken in order to bridge the skills gap. These recommendations...

Increased global competition has led to declines in the American manufacturing sector, requiring U.S. workers to possess stronger skills and broader competencies in order to succeed in the current job market; in particular, postsecondary education or technical training is fundamental...

In spite of overwhelming odds, some immigrants with minimal academic credentials are finding their way to college, entering post-secondary programs and earning credentials that provide them with the skills required to get and keep good jobs. They are doing so with the assistance of...

The Detroit Regional Workforce Fund’s efforts to connect low and moderate-income persons to career pathways is inhibited by the skills gap. As a result, the Detroit Regional Workforce Fund is pursuing several key policy and capacity-building efforts focused on increasing adult educational...

Michigan’s economy is transforming to one that demands new skills, knowledge, and credentials, especially post-secondary education. However, there are fewer adults able to meet this growing need; in fact, one out of three working-age Michigan adults lacks the basic skills or credentials...

The Detroit Economic Mobility Grant Initiative, a 10-grant Detroit pilot program operating from mid-2018 through 2020, has demonstrated that adult education and occupational training programs can work together to substantially improve learner results by accelerating instruction and...

No Worker Left Behind (NWLB) was an offer by the State of Michigan from 2007-2010 of free tuition to low-income and unemployed workers willing to go back to school and earn a market-relevant degree or credential. This study explores the experiences of those who enrolled in NWLB, seeking...