Michigan companies are bracing for churn—and doubling down on outplacement to soften the blow. Vertical Media Solutions (VMS) reports a sharp uptick in employer requests for career transition services in 2025, spanning automotive, healthcare, and tech. The move reflects both sustained restructuring and a recognition that how companies part ways matters just as much as how they hire.
The backdrop: Michigan’s unemployment rate sits at 5.3% as of July 2025, more than a percentage point above the national average. Layoffs at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (600+ positions) and GM’s Factory ZERO plant in Detroit (200 positions) underscore the turbulence.
Outplacement as Brand Protection
“How you part ways is how the market remembers you,” said Joel Marotti, Senior Managing Partner at VMS. In practice, that means employers are paying for people-first transition programs that emphasize career coaching, digital visibility, and interview prep—rather than leaving former employees to fend for themselves.
So far, the model seems to deliver:
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72% of participants land interviews within 45 days
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Candidates who secure offers report an average 12% salary increase
Those outcomes, VMS says, come from certified coaching, recruiter visibility via LinkedIn optimization, and a fully remote delivery model that sidesteps travel or childcare barriers.
Why Employers Are Acting Now
The case for outplacement isn’t just altruism. Employers cite:
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Employer brand protection during highly visible layoffs
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Lower legal risk through consistent, supportive separations
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Competitive pressure: candidates pay attention to how companies treat departing staff
The U.S. Department of Labor’s recent $1.3M allocation for Michigan employment services adds another layer of urgency, signaling both public and private sectors see workforce transition as a top priority.
The Bigger Picture
Outplacement once carried a reputation as a corporate checkbox—hand departing workers a packet and wish them luck. But with modern expectations for empathy and transparency in employer-employee relationships, the bar has risen.
As Marotti puts it: “Professional outplacement isn’t about templates. It’s empathetic, one-to-one guidance that reduces stress and speeds time-to-offer.”
For Michigan employers navigating turbulent times, that shift may be the difference between reputational damage and being remembered as a company that does right by its people—even in the hardest moments.
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