Over the last seven years, we have worked hard to create a positive business environment in Michigan, which has helped create roughly half a million new private sector jobs in our state.

As a result, our state unemployment rate has dropped to just 3.7 percent, which is well below the national average and the lowest jobless rate in 17 years.

It’s a positive record of achievement, yet we must continue to encourage job creation and help connect employers seeking workers with residents looking for work.

One step is to increase our focus on providing students and workers with the skills necessary to close the current talent gap.

We must also look at ways to incentivize employers to hire residents who have consistently faced significant barriers to get a job, such as the disabled, the poor and our veterans.

Michigan should take a look at mirroring the federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit at the state level to get people off welfare and back to work.

The federal WOTC offers a tax credit to employers who hire eligible employees from targeted job seekers, including veterans on food assistance, disabled or unemployed veterans, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families recipients, individuals receiving food assistance or long-term unemployment benefits, ex-felons, Supplementary Security Income recipients, summer youth employees, designated community residents, and individuals with a disability completing rehabilitative services.

As part of our criminal justice reforms, the Senate passed Senate Bill 14, which would have created the Work Opportunity Act to provide incentives to employers hiring individuals on probation or parole. Ultimately, the bill wasn’t included in the final criminal justice package.

I am working on a new measure that is similar to SB 14, but that would be broadened to include all the target groups in the federal WOTC program.

Michigan’s economy is growing and creating jobs, yet some people are struggling to get a job. This program would focus on providing a small incentive to help give groups with high unemployment rates a chance to get off public assistance and have a successful career.

Sen. John Proos, R-St. Joseph, represents Southwest Michigan.