HELPING EMPLOYERS FIND THE TALENT THEY NEED FOR SUCCESSSoutheast Michigan's workforce is high-tech, versatile, mobile, and educated. The region also has the highest concentration of employment in the state making it a hot-bed of economic activity. In 2014, employment reached 2.26 million individuals and the labor force reached 2.46 million and counting. New graduates from the region's world class universities and colleges build up the already high-skilled labor force in Southeast Michigan.

A COMPETITIVE EDGEThe 9-county region surrounding Detroit, Flint, and Ann Arbor is home to one of the most concentrated engineering and skilled trade labor markets in the world. And this high-tech workforce is growing. Since 2009, engineering and industrial design employment grew 35.5%, employment in the skilled trades grew 30%, and information technology employment grew 16.5%, nearly all recovering to their pre-recession peak levels. The competitive edge lies in the concentration of these workers: 3.7 times the national concentration of engineers and designers, 2.4 times for skilled trades, and 1.2 times for IT, all in Southeast Michigan.

With over 60% of the workforce holding a post-secondary certificate or more, the region boasts the most highly skilled manufacturing, IT, and engineering talent across the nation. Because of the concentration of these workers and their families, health care is also major contributor to the labor market ensuring the highest quality care for the region's workers.

60.2% 2.46mil

GROWING TALENTSoutheast Michigan is home to nine community colleges, six public universities (two of which are research institutions), and many private colleges and training institutions, attracting talent from across the U.S. and the globe. Talent is also an export industry for the region, with many individuals attracted by the world class education offered at the region's academic institutions. In 2013, nearly 30,000 individuals completed certificates and degrees related to the region's four primary high-tech fields. Nearly 15,000 newly educated health care workers, 12,000 engineers, designers, and skilled tradesman, and 3,000 IT workers joined the ranks in the region and across the nation in 2013.

A CONCENTRATED AND MOBILE WORKFORCESoutheast Michigan's workforce lives, works, and plays in the region. An overwhelming majority, 92% of the workforce, both lives and works in the area making this 9-county region a true labor market. In fact, 43.6% of the workforce commutes fewer than ten miles. But Southeast Michigan's workers are willing to go where the jobs are, with over 12.1% traveling between 25 and 50 miles to work and 9.2% traveling more than 50 miles.

Share of the workforce with post-secondary

training, certificate, or degree

2014 labor force in Southeast Michigan,

ready to work

Share of Southeast Michigan's population that lives and works in

the region

New gradutes in high-tech fields from the

region's higher education institutions

92% 30,000

For more information about Southeast Michigan's workforce visit: win-semich.org