As the new director of Michigan’s unemployment insurance program, my goal is to amplify the transformative changes underway at the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA), focusing on improving experiences for workers and employers.
When I took the job with UIA in February, it brought me back to Michigan after working in Chicago as a regional commissioner with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. My team collected and analyzed regional information about labor market activity, price changes, and working conditions.
Before joining BLS, I was director of what is now known as the Michigan Center for Data and Analytics. Prior to that, I earned degrees from Michigan State University and Wayne State University. I am a licensed attorney and member of the State Bar of Michigan.
Outside of work I am an accomplished woodworker. I bring a passion for building things to my job: Building better systems, better services, and better experiences for those we serve.
Among my priorities as director are:
I am particularly excited about the progress we’re making with MiUI, which will replace the more than a decade-old MiWAM computer system in December for tax functions and next summer for benefits. Bookmark our MiUI University webpage at Michigan.gov/MiUIUniversity for updates about the many changes coming soon.
We’re also leveraging AI technology with our new online chatbot, which provides up-to-date answers to general questions about unemployment insurance. It works seamlessly with our Employer Help Center, among the most popular resources on our website. And our Economic Dashboard delivers deep insight into local and statewide unemployment trends.
I’m excited about UIA’s future. We’re making substantive changes to create a more responsive and helpful agency for everyone. I am excited to partner with MRA to build a better agency that can be a national model for fast, fair, and fraud-free service.
Jason Palmer is Director at the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency.