QUARTERLY LABOR MARKET REPORT WASHTENAW COUNTY Q1 2015

SUMMARY

Washtenaw County has a strong labor market. During 2014, employment averaged 179,293 individuals with an available labor force of 188,243. December 2014 marked a high point in employment with 181,966 individuals in jobs. Employment growth has outpaced labor force growth resulting in a low unemployment rate of 4.8% (2014 average).

IT is a growing strength in Washtenaw County. In Q1 2015, IT postings in Washtenaw County reached new heights to 1,718 job ads, 61% growth from Q4 2014 to Q1 2015. Software developers, applications are the top posting position in Washtenaw County with 584 postings in Q1 2015, more than double the level from Q4 2014.

Total online job postings in Washtenaw County grew from 8,870 in Q4 2014 to 10,617 in Q1 2015, a 20% increase. Postings in Washtenaw County are up across the board with every cluster analyzed by WIN experiencing growth between Q4 2014 and Q1 2015. Posting growth is the largest for IT occupations and smallest for skilled trades and agriculture. The clusters analyzed by WIN in Washtenaw County represent 59.2% of all online job postings in the county.

ANALYSISSoftware developers, applications is the top posting position in Washtenaw County with 584 postings in Q1 2015. This level is more than double the postings for software developers in Q4 2014 (288 postings). Software developers have also moved up in relative demand going from 3rd most in-demand to 1st between Q4 2014 and Q1 2015. Other occupations, such as registered nurses (494 postings) and heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (302 postings), remain in top positions for another quarter. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers fell from the top spot in Q4 2014 (345 postings) to the 3rd most in-demand with 302 postings in Q1 2015. Nurses retained their 2nd most in-demand position but postings increased by more than 50% from 335 in Q4 2014 to 494 in Q1 2015.

TOP JOBS Q1 2015

WASHTENAW Q1 2015 DEMAND OVERVIEW

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*This report includes top jobs and postings over time highlights for clusters that have made major shifts ormovements in the past quarter. The data is updated each quarter based on the clusters with the most noteworthy changes. For complete top jobs lists, educational attainment, and wage information, please see the regional reports or contact WIN's Research Director Colby Cesaro at colby.cesaro@win-semich.org.

HIGHLIGHTS

ANALYSIS

ANALYSIS

Between Q1 2011 and Q4 2014 IT postings fluctuated around an average of 1,050. In Q1 2015, IT postings in Washtenaw County reached new heights with 1,718 job ads, a growth of 61% from Q4 2014 to Q1 2015. Information Technology is a growing strength in Washtenaw County and employer demand is continuing to expand as evidenced by extreme growth in online job ads in Q1 2015.

IT POSTINGS OVER TIME

ANALYSIS

Online job postings for engineers and designers also increased to new highs in Q1 2015. After hovering around an average of 341 postings from Q1 2011 through Q4 2014, postings in Q1 2015 reached 493 growing 52% from Q4 2014. While the total number of job ads is small relative to the total in Washtenaw County (10,617 total postings), engineering and design jobs are more in demand now than in the past four years.

ENGINEER & DESIGNER POSTINGS OVER TIME

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LABOR MARKET OVERVIEW

ANALYSIS

ANALYSIS

ANALYSISWashtenaw County has a strong labor market. During 2014 employment averaged 179,293 individuals with an available labor force of 188,243. December 2014 marked a high point in employment with 181,966 individuals in jobs. Washtenaw County’s employment and labor force levels have been steadily rising since the recession low in 2010. Employment growth has outpaced labor force growth resulting in a low unemployment rate of 4.8% (2014 average). Between 2013 and 2014 employment grew 2.3% and the unemployment rate dropped from an average 5.8% to 4.8%. If 2015 continues the trend, Washtenaw will remain a strong leader in the region.

EMPLOYMENT & LABOR FORCE

ANALYSISTotal online job postings in Washtenaw County grew from 8,870 in Q4 2014 to 10,617 in Q1 2015, a 20% increase. While Q1 2015 postings are not the highest levels seen in Washtenaw County, the growth in employer demand is welcome after three consecutive quarters of decline.

TOTAL POSTINGS OVER TIME

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POSTING TRENDS BY CLUSTER

ANALYSISPostings in Washtenaw County are up across the board with every cluster analyzed by WIN experiencing growth between Q4 2014 and Q1 2015. Posting growth is the largest for IT occupations and smallest for skilled trades and agriculture. IT is quickly becoming one of the strongest clusters in the area, representing 16.2% of online job ads, up over 4 percentage points from 12.0% in Q4 2014. Health care postings ticked up this quarter after several quarters of fluctuation. Health care remains at about 15.0% of total postings, another strong cluster in the area due to the presence of several large hospitals and other health care employers. Retail & hospitality postings remain low after a large drop from Q1 2014, one year ago. While postings in other clusters are growing quickly, retail & hospitality seems to be in a general decline. However, retail & hospitality is still an important cluster to follow as it represents 18.6% of total online job ads in Washtenaw County.

The clusters analyzed by WIN in Washtenaw County represent 59.2% of all online job postings in the county.

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TOP JOBS BY CLUSTER

ANALYSIS

ANALYSIS

ANALYSISMechanical engineers was the top posting engineering job in Washtenaw County in Q1 2015 with 95 online job postings, moving up from the second place position in Q4 2014. This is also a considerable increase from 65 postings in Q4 2014. The most in-demand jobs in this cluster in Washtenaw County remain mechanical, electrical, and civil engineers, but their levels and order have shifted since last quarter. Postings for many engineering jobs are up compared to Q4 2014, with employer demand for these workers starting off strong in 2015.

ENGINEER & DESIGNER TOP JOBS

ANALYSISDuring Q1 2015, first-line supervisors of production and operating workers was the top posting skilled trade job in Washtenaw County. This occupation’s demand has grown considerably in the last quarter, increasing from 13 postings in Q4 2014 to 40 in Q1 2015 and rising from fourth to first in-demand. Skilled trade postings in Washtenaw are up across the board, so many occupations are exhibiting large demand increases. In Q4 2014, CNC machinists were the fifth most in-demand with 12 postings. In Q1 2015 they were the third most in-demand with 27 postings. Electronics engineering technicians have also grown in demand from 9 postings to 23 (Q4 2014 to Q1 2015).

SKILLED TRADE & TECHNICIAN TOP JOBS

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ANALYSISHealth care job demand is up and employer needs for registered nurses are far and away the highest. Growing nearly 50% from 335 postings in Q4 2014 to 494 online job postings in Q1 2015, this typical top posting job is more in-demand than ever. Registered nurses online job postings outpace the next most in-demand health care job (nurse practitioners, 116 postings) nearly 5:1. Other top health care jobs, for another quarter running, are nursing assistants (83 postings) and medical assistants (83 postings).

HEALTH CARE TOP JOBS

ANALYSISSimilar to other clusters in Washtenaw, IT demand is increasing rapidly. Software developers for applications have consistently been the top in-demand IT job across the region. Postings more than doubled for this occupation in the last quarter growing from 288 in Q4 2014 to 584 in Q1 2015. Other top jobs in IT in Washtenaw include computer user support specialists with 183 postings (up from 105 in Q4 2014) and web developers with 114 postings (up from 76 in Q4 2014).

IT TOP JOBS

TOP JOBS BY CLUSTER

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