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Predictive Analytics Supporting Labor Market Success: A Career Explorer for Job Seekers and Workforce Professionals in Michigan

Author

Listed:
  • Christopher J. O’Leary
  • Kevin Doyle
  • Ben Damerow
  • Kenneth J. Kline
  • Beth C. Truesdale
  • Salomon Orellana
  • Randall W. Eberts
  • Amy Meyers
  • Anna Wilcoxson
  • Scott Powell

Abstract

Career Explorer provides customized career exploration tools for workforce development staff and job seekers in Michigan. There are two separate Career Explorer modules: a staff-mediated service and a self-service for job seekers. The system was developed by the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics in collaboration with the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research and Michigan Works! Southwest. It was funded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Workforce Investment and the Schmidt Futures’ Data for the American Dream (D4AD) project. In this paper, the authors describe the machine learning models behind the predictive analytics of the frontline staff-mediated version of Career Explorer. These models were trained on program administrative data. Additionally, the authors describe the self-service version of Career Explorer, which provides clients with customized labor market information based on published U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Career Explorer became an active feature of Michigan's online reemployment services system in June 2021.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher J. O’Leary & Kevin Doyle & Ben Damerow & Kenneth J. Kline & Beth C. Truesdale & Salomon Orellana & Randall W. Eberts & Amy Meyers & Anna Wilcoxson & Scott Powell, 2025. "Predictive Analytics Supporting Labor Market Success: A Career Explorer for Job Seekers and Workforce Professionals in Michigan," Economic Development Quarterly, , vol. 39(1), pages 6-23, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecdequ:v:39:y:2025:i:1:p:6-23
    DOI: 10.1177/08912424241271163
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Markus Frölich & Michael Lechner & Heidi Steiger, 2003. "Statistically Assisted Programme Selection - International Experiences and Potential Benefits for Switzerland," Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics (SJES), Swiss Society of Economics and Statistics (SSES), vol. 139(3), pages 311-331, September.
    2. Stefanie Behncke & Markus Frölich & Michael Lechner, 2009. "Targeting Labour Market Programmes - Results from a Randomized Experiment," Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics (SJES), Swiss Society of Economics and Statistics (SSES), vol. 145(3), pages 221-268, September.
    3. Randall W. Eberts & Christopher J. O'Leary, 2003. "A Frontline Decision Support System for Georgia Career Centers," Book chapters authored by Upjohn Institute researchers, in: Joshua Riley & Aquila Branch & Stephen Wandner & Wayne Gordon (ed.),A Compilation of Selected Papers from the Employment and Training Administration's 2003 Biennial National Research Conference, ETA Occasional Paper 20, pages 80-129, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.
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