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Educating and Training the Workforce

Approximately 750 food manufacturers in Michigan generate nearly $15 billion of annual economic activity and support over 43,000 jobs. In the past decade the industry has seen a 60% growth and the continued growth has created an overwhelming gap in the workforce for skilled labor. In West Michigan, over 274 food processing establishments produce nearly 36,400  jobs with a 10 year growth rate of 31 % between 2009 and 2019. The average earnings in this sector are over $61,000.

Education and training of the workforce needed is a key component of sustaining the growth of food processing and a key pillar of the West Michigan Food Processing Association. Developing partnerships with industry and education institutions to build workforce capacity is vital. Building a workforce goes beyond training. Recruitment into food processing careers is essential to building that workforce.

Upon benchmarking the Finger Lakes Region of New York, which launched a Food Processing Cluster Initiative in 2010, the West Michigan Food Processing Association and its principal supporters believe the following steps are integral to expanding the food processing sector in West Michigan:

  • Integrate more soft skills training in classrooms
    Informing counselors and educators about the opportunities within the food and agriculture industry

  • Career Tech Education to include food processing
    Boot camp, short courses, and certificate programs to address immediate needs

  • Two-year certificate and degree programs for future employment in skilled and management positions

  • Programs at Community Colleges for a 2+2 program for
    Bachelor Degree

  • Exploration of a tech education ‘promise’ scholarships with incentive for students to stay in state

  • Expand commercial kitchen and production development incubation programs

  • Consider development of a chef incubator facility similar to Smallman Galley in Pittsburgh

Sector Overview for West Michigan

Total Jobs

36,400

1.92

Location Quotient

31%

Job Growth 2009-2019

274

Total Establishments

$61,388

Average Earnings
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