LANSING — A state agency held the Moving Michigan Males Forward conference Wednesday, part of a push to enroll more men in higher education.
Data from the state shows that college enrollment is about 55% female and 45% male and that younger boys struggle with academic achievement more often than girls.
Experts say that the disparities in educational achievement lead to fewer men being able to serve in high-wage or skilled positions.
“There are more young men who are disconnected from the labor market and from the education system in Michigan than elsewhere,” said Richard Reeves, president of the American Institute for Boys and Men.
The event was held by the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential, or MiLEAP. The department was launched in 2023 and seeks to help Michigan residents of all ages access the education resources that are available to them.
Michigan also has a higher rate of men who refrain from entering the workforce, education or training — about 14%, compared to 12% nationally.
Experts say that these trends could leave the next generation of men with fewer opportunities than their parents.
“We lose talent, we lose innovation, and I would argue, more importantly than that, we lose fathers, we lose mentors, we lose neighbors, we lose leaders,” said Jason Wilson, deputy director of strategic talent preparation for MiLEAP.
Reeves suggested that policymakers should invest in access to higher education, and also expand options for Career Technical Education and apprenticeships.
“We want high-quality post-secondary education — and for some people, that is going to be more of a mainstream college route, and for others, it’s going to be more of a vocational route, and they are equally valid, they are equally important, and they are equally valued,” he said.
Amy Shamroe, mayor of Traverse City, also serves as an extended education industry navigator for Northwestern Michigan College.
She says that the data highlights larger issues with awareness and access of post-secondary education in Michigan.
“It’s also the broader conversation of access to education and what that looks like — and I think a lot of us have a very traditional idea that really doesn’t apply anymore. There’s a lot of pathways and on ramps to getting that higher education,” she said.
Reeves also said that male-focused outreach can exist alongside specialized programs and support for women.
“It’s very important that moving males forward doesn’t mean moving females backwards, and that lifting up men is not a zero-sum competition,” he said.