Michigan's Unemployment Insurance Agency Director, Julia Dale, is set to leave her position early next year to become the CEO of the Detroit-based nonprofit Civilla, devoted to improving public services and aiding institutions in serving communities more effectively. The Detroit News reported on Dale's pending departure and her contributions to the agency since her appointment by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in October 2021. During her leadership, Dale addressed a massive surge in employment claims and concerns of fraud that tested the agency's limits amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Bridge Michigan, Dale's time as director focused on addressing the pandemic backlog and advancing a modernized unemployment system. She was the third director to lead the organization since 2019. The UIA faced criticism for missteps, including poor protection of taxpayer data and a failed response to fraudulent claims. A third-party audit by Deloitte estimated that these errors could have cost the state around $8.5 billion between March 2020 and September 2021. Despite the challenges, Dale emphasized that the changes made will continue to benefit the public, highlighting the collective effort involved.

Throughout her leadership, Dale spearheaded initiatives to overhaul the agency's benefits system, which will see improvements rolled out in phases, and partnered with Civilla on projects such as the UIA Claimant Roadmap and the Employer Help Center, aiming to simplify access to benefits, a point noted by the Detroit Free Press.

Dale's commitment to a smooth transition was communicated in an email to UIA staff, noting, "As I prepare for this transition, I am committed to ensuring a smooth handover," as reported by The Detroit News, but the specific details regarding her successor have not yet been made public; with Dale's departure effective January 3, the search for a new director will likely begin shortly as the UIA moves to build on the reforms and initiatives undertaken during her three years of stewardship.