Nearly any restaurant or business you frequent these days has a “help wanted” sign in the window. That’s especially true for agriculture. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for agriculture in April was at 8.9 percent.
Chuck Lippstreu, president of the Michigan Agri-Business Association, said all types of jobs need to be filled.
“As we visit with our members around the state, there are jobs in agriculture in virtually any type of capacity—whether it’s an entry-level position, front desk job, or an operations job all the way to highly-skilled jobs for applicators, folks who have specialized training, and truck drivers,” he said.
In the early months of the pandemic, Lippstreu said those additional unemployment benefits were necessary. Now that the situation has calmed, Michigan will reinstate the work search requirement starting May 30.
“That’s a positive step,” he said. “That work search requirement basically stipulates that to remain on unemployment, you must actively search for a job. We’re in dire need of workers back into the labor force. While it’s a complex issue, the reality is that enhanced unemployment is a big part of that situation.”
However, MABA is going to encourage the state government to go further and to roll back the enhanced unemployment benefits.
“A positive step in the right direction [Tuesday], but we hope the state government will take a look at the reality on the ground, which is that there are good paying jobs open in agriculture and other segments of the economy,” said Lippstreu. “We do need people back into the labor force as soon as we can get them.”
The state of Michigan does have a job search portal called MITalent.org for those interested in applying.
“Jobs are available in agriculture in almost every community in our state, and there’s an urgent need for people to fill these jobs,” said Lippstreu. “They’re good jobs, they’re good paying jobs, and we desperately need people back into the labor force.”
