Workforce of Tomorrow: Aligning Education, Industry, Regions, and Policy

• Workforce development must be a shared, proactive responsibility across all sectors. 
• Higher education must evolve to prepare students for undefined futures through early exposure and integrated career pathways.
• Skills-based, experience-driven pathways are essential to building a competitive and resilient workforce. 

Talent development remains a top priority for Michigan’s economic future, and universities, government, and industry can work together to co-create stronger talent pathways. Hosted by Michigan State University, this discussion explored how Michigan’s long-term competitiveness depends on aligning education, industry, and workforce systems to prepare talent for a rapidly evolving, AI-driven economy. 

View the full video below.

As AI rapidly reshapes career pathways, the gap between education and workforce systems is becoming harder to ignore. Ronia Kruse of OpTech LLC and Companies, as well as Digital Lakes, emphasized that closing the gap is a shared responsibility.  

“[Finding workforce talent solutions is everybody’s job,” Kruse said, noting that technology is moving so quickly that many organizations and workers struggle to keep up, reinforcing the need for coordinated action. Preparing students for this reality will require earlier exposure, stronger partnerships, and a greater focus on building adaptable, lifelong learners.  

With many future roles still undefined, Michigan State University’s Laura Lee McIntyre stressed that higher education must rethink how it prepares students, stating, “We’re preparing students for jobs that haven’t even been identified.”  This reality demands a shift from traditional academic pathways to models that combine classroom learning with real-world exposure, career exploration, and fluency in emerging technologies.  

Central to this approach is deeper collaboration with industry, as McIntyre put it, “higher education needs industry and industry needs higher education — we are inextricably linked.”  

By embedding career pathway experiences and readiness throughout the student journey, McIntyre said, institutions can better ensure graduates are equipped for long-term career adaptability.  

As industries evolve, traditional career pathways are becoming less relevant, requiring a shift toward skills-based preparation and hands-on experience. Henry Ford Health’s Bob Riney, 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference Chair, emphasized this shift, stating, “We need to look at skills versus a specific track to a specific job.”  

He reinforced the urgency of this mindset by saying, “There’s no roadmap for the jobs of the future from the past.” While underscoring that human-centered skills like empathy, collaboration, and communication remain essential. Riney also highlighted the value of experiential learning, saying, “internships work — this is an investment now for a great return later.” 

This session was hosted by Michigan State University.