As Michigan’s economy continues to grow and create jobs, many well-paying positions remain unfilled.

We owe it to every Michigan high school student to provide them with valuable career information — including information on fields where jobs currently exist and are expected to be created — so they can make the best decision for their future.

To help in this effort, the governor recently signed my legislation to provide students with important career outlook information and reward students for taking extra science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses.

Senate Bill 343, now Public Act 242 of 2018, requires school districts and public-school academies to provide students with the most recent available analysis of in-demand occupations for the economic forecast region in which the school or public-school academy is located. The new act allows the in-demand careers information to be emailed to students.

On a regular basis, the state compiles “Regional Hot Jobs” outlooks for all of Michigan’s 10 prosperity regions. They are available at milmi.org/research.

According to the Southwest Michigan “Hot Jobs” outlook, the careers with the highest percentage projected growth in the region are computer-controlled machine tool operators (26.4 percent growth), nurse practitioners (23.5 percent) and software developers (20.8 percent).

SB 344, now PA 241 of 2018, allows Michigan students to receive a STEM certification on their diploma or transcript as an incentive for taking additional courses in STEM subjects.

To earn the STEM certification, students need to complete at least six credits in mathematics, at least six credits in science, at least a half credit featuring significant coursework involving technology, and at least a half credit featuring significant coursework involving engineering.

Michigan is now the first state in the nation to allow this STEM certification opportunity. It is a great way to reward students who have taken the initiative to complete additional STEM classes to prepare themselves for success in growing careers and to highlight their accomplishments.

Both of these measures will help Michigan students succeed by ensuring they can make informed decisions by receiving information on in-demand jobs and giving them a competitive advantage in landing a great job.