Growth Trends for Related Jobs
What Are the Major Industries of Michigan?
With the help of one of the longest coastlines in the U.S., and all of it on fresh water, the tourism industry accounts for a large portion of Michigan's revenue. The industries with the highest employment rates in Michigan, though, are manufacturing, agriculture, information and health care.
Manufacturing Products
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment in Michigan's manufacturing industry increased 3.1 percent between July 2013 and July 2014. A variety of products are manufactured in the state, including machinery, furniture and chemicals, but Michigan is mostly known for its automotive industry. Michigan's Economic Development Corporation notes that nearly 23 percent of all U.S. vehicle production comes from the state. Michigan employed more industrial and mechanical engineers in 2012 than any other state, chiefly because of the automotive sector. Additionally, 61 of North America's 100 top automotive suppliers are headquartered in Michigan.
Farming Crops
Michigan's Workforce Development Agency reports that all agricultural jobs represented about 2 percent of the state's total employment, as of January 2013. The agriculture industry is comprised of agriculture wholesale and retail, food processing and farming sectors. Most people employed in the industry are farm workers and laborers who work with nurseries, greenhouses or crops. According to Michigan's Department of Natural Resources, the state ranked first nationally in production of blueberries, petunias, geraniums, squash and more, as of April 2014.
Supplying Information
The BLS noted that employment in Michigan's information industry increased 3.8 percent between July 2013 and July 2014. In addition, the state's official website reported that it ranked third for high-tech job growth in March 2014. The information industry includes information technology support services, technical consulting services, and digital content providers. Some of the most in-demand occupations are network systems and data communications analysts, computer software engineers and computer systems analysts.
Providing Health Care
Michigan's Department of Technology, Management and Budget expects employment opportunities for health care support occupations to increase 24.3 percent, and those for practitioners and technical staff to grow 16.6 percent through 2020. Careers with the top employment rates include registered and licensed practical nurses, medical and dental assistants, home health aides and pharmacy technicians. Michigan's Workforce Development Agency expects home health aide and physical therapist aide and assistant occupations to see the highest growth rate through 2018.
References
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources: Michigan in Brief
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Economy at a Glance : Michigan
- State of Michigan: Michigan Recognized for Job Growth, Attracting International Investment
- Michigan Economic Development Corporation: Michigan is Auto : Assets of the Motor State
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Based in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, Megan Torrance left her position as the general manager for five Subway restaurants to focus on her passion for writing. Torrance specializes in creating content for career-oriented, motivated individuals and small business owners. Her work has been published on such sites as Chron, GlobalPost and eHow.
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