Exclusive: Vice President Kamala Harris Shares Her Vision For Small Business & Education

Vice President Kamala Harris stopped in Detroit on Monday and talked exclusively with Kiss FM's Mildred Gaddis about the administration's new goals for Americans. Harris shared the idea of their wealth-building mission, and they feel that if you invest in someone now, their grandchildren can experience intergenerational wealth.

The plan includes supporting local businesses and highlighting the crucial role of education in today's job market.

Harris underscored the administration's commitment to supporting small businesses, particularly those owned by minorities and black-owned, which were disproportionately affected during the pandemic. "It was our great concern that so many small businesses would have to close permanently," Harris said, underlining the swift actions taken to provide financial aid to keep businesses afloat.

"If we are to grow the wealth and the opportunity for intergenerational wealth in the community, people have to be seen as whole humans," Harris reiterated.

The administration has put together programs to help with loans for small businesses and homeownership and deal with obstacles like debt. Harris said, "Debt holds so many people back; I'm doing this because I want people to not just be able to get by but get ahead."

The power of education leads to success, and Harris wants to ensure that we create a path to success.

Harris said, "There really are very few jobs that one can thrive in, in terms of their income, if they don't have some education, including not only K-12 but education after high school... including apprenticeship programs."

"IBEW and union apprenticeship programs are extraordinary; you get paid while you're in it, and it's a high-level skill that allows people to make a living where you can buy a home and take your family on vacation.

Mildred Gaddis only had seven minutes to talk with the VP, but she promised to return to Detroit and discuss more. So stay tuned for round two with Kamala Harris. 

Later, Gaddis called into the Mason & Starr show to talk about the exclusive interview and gave her an inside scope of what she thought about the VP and how she felt the conversation went.

Listen here for the complete conversation with Mason & Starr.

For those currently in the process of job hunting, the market is working in your favor right now. There are plenty of job opportunities available. Representatives from the Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget came together for a conference in Lansing on Tuesday. The event aimed to chart the course of the state's employment landscape for the next seven years. Additionally, they’re working to ensure people know about the jobs currently in high demand.

Yesterday, the DTMB and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity released two publications: Michigan’s Hot 50 and Michigan’s Career Outlook. Michigan’s Hot 50 brochure provides a comprehensive list of careers projected to have high demand and offer competitive wages, with the projections extending until 2030. This informative resource includes key details such as job titles, projected annual job openings, hourly wage ranges, insights into job growth, and the necessary education or training levels.

For people with a high school diploma and short-term training, several careers are expected to experience heightened demand over the next eight years. These careers include amusement and recreation attendants, animal caretakers, exercise trainers, group fitness instructors, bartenders, hosts, and hostesses.

On the other hand, for those with a bachelor’s degree or higher, the demand is projected to be strong for professions including general and operations managers, accountants, auditors, medical and health services managers, physician assistants, and industrial engineers.

The information gathered in these lists is valuable for students and job seekers. It assists them in making informed decisions about their future paths.

"It is our goal to provide our education and workforce partners with the information they need to help Michiganders find their path to high-demand, high-wage jobs," Scott Powell, director of the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget's Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, said in a news release.

Check out these five most in-demand jobs in Michigan, as highlighted by Michigan's Department of Technology, Management, and Budget. See the complete list here.

The projected annual job openings amount to 6,545, offering an hourly wage spanning from $29 to $72. Anticipated growth from 2020 to 2030 stands at 11.9%. The usual educational and training prerequisites beyond high school for this role include a bachelor's degree alongside relevant work experience.

The projected annual job openings amount to 7,635, offering an hourly wage spanning from $19 to $29. Anticipated growth from 2020 to 2030 stands at 12.7%. The usual educational and training prerequisites beyond high school for this role include a postsecondary nondegree award, short-term on-the-job training, or a license.

The projected annual job openings amount to 8,240, offering an hourly wage spanning from $21 to $40. Anticipated growth from 2020 to 2030 stands at 9.6%. The usual educational and training prerequisites beyond high school for this role include moderate on-the-job training.

The projected annual job openings amount to 6,345, offering an hourly wage spanning from $30 to $38. Anticipated growth from 2020 to 2030 stands at 7.9%. The usual educational and training prerequisites beyond high school for this role include a bachelor's degree or s license.

The projected annual job openings amount to 1,420, offering an hourly wage spanning from $19 to $30. Anticipated growth from 2020 to 2030 stands at 12%. The usual educational and training prerequisites beyond high school for this role include a bachelor's degree or s license.