Michigan report aims to boost women in high-wage careers

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — The Michigan Women’s Commission on Tuesday unveiled its “Pathways to High Wage Careers” report in a virtual town hall, laying out strategies to help more women enter Michigan’s highest-growth, highest-paying fields.

The commission said women’s labor force participation in Michigan lags about 10% behind men, translating into an untapped economic opportunity between $24 billion and $47 billion per year. These findings are based on statewide roundtables and recent surveys that identified economic security as the top priority for Michigan women.

The report organizes input from employers, apprentices, business owners, and policymakers into three levers to grow women’s access to high‑wage work: apprenticeships, small business ownership and entrepreneurship and corporate pathways.

Apprenticeships

In apprenticeships, women remain underrepresented. About 3% of Michigan’s on-skilled trades workforce is made up of women, and women account for 10% of all registered apprentices. The report recommends steps that improve recruitment and retention, including gender-inclusive sanitary facilities on job sites.

Small businesses and entrepreneurship

Women-owned businesses are growing, but female founders receive a smaller share of venture capital than men. The commission recommended creating a statewide first-rung capital fund, providing technical assistance and reinstating angel investor tax credits to diversify access to capital.

Corporate careers

Women hold about 23% of executive officer roles in Michigan’s public companies, and women of color hold about 2%. The MWC recommends passing Michigan’s 2025 Pay Equity and Transparency legislative package with business incentives, subsidize childcare and caregiving financial support, and provide formal sponsorship programs to ensure women are advocated for in promotion conversations.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joined the event and expanded on childcare as a key barrier that pushes many women to pause their careers. The report recommends expanding the MI Tri-Share Child Care Program, which splits the cost of licensed childcare evenly among the employer, the employee, and the state.

Read the full report here.

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