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Workforce Development

What is workforce development?

Workforce development is the strategic alignment of people, training, and employers to build a skilled, adaptable internet infrastructure workforce. It connects job seekers, students, and current employees with the education, certifications, and hands-on experience needed to succeed in today’s evolving job market—while ensuring businesses have access to the talent they need to grow. Through initiatives like upskilling programs, apprenticeships, and employer partnerships, workforce development helps individuals advance their careers, strengthens organizations, and supports long-term economic growth within communities.

Why invest in workforce development?

Merit is uniquely positioned to meet a need that is not currently being filled, by supporting our members, partners, the State of Michigan and other stakeholders in efforts to provide a well trained workforce that can maintain and improve internet infrastructure.

As a trusted third party partner we have the opportunity to connect a range of disparate efforts across the learning ecosystem by focusing on experiential learning.

Merit is uniquely positioned to support this work because we are:

  • The only 3rd party entity in the state that has connections to all required partners.
  • An organization with an established reputation for excellence in our service areas.
  • A trusted leader with a history of innovation and impact that elevates others.
  • Able to partner with our members by connecting formal learning experiences with hands-on, real-world opportunities.

Who are we serving?

  • K-20 students: High school and community college students looking for direct-to-employment pathways, specifically through structured broadband apprentice programs.
  • Rural and underserved communities: Individuals in communities where access to training, education, or career opportunities may be limited, helping connect more people to stable careers in the high-growth broadband sector.
  • Network operators and smaller ISPs: Employers with network infrastructure who need a steady, certified, and local technical workforce to build and maintain their networks.
  • The State of Michigan: Government agencies that require a coordinated, statewide workforce ecosystem to successfully deploy public infrastructure investments.
  • Merit member institutions: Higher education, K-12, library, government, healthcare and public sector organizations who can benefit from specialized technical training, professional bootcamps, and consulting services to help their staff keep pace with rapid broadband expansion.

Building Michigan’s human digital network

The Workforce Development Department is more than a project. It’s a down payment on Michigan’s future. These initiatives will create a human network as vital as our fiber pathways: resilient, inclusive, and mission driven.

Strategic investment today ensures not only Merit’s stability but also amplifies the greater good, positioning Michigan as a national model in broadband-enabled workforce innovation.

By launching the Merit’s Workforce Development and Workforce Education Department, Merit Network will:

  • Secure core operations.
  • Enrich our members and partners.
  • Build talent pipelines for Michigan.
  • Foster equity and lifelong learning.
  • Drive the collective impact that makes Michigan thrive.