Talent

Talent Drives Business Growth

In 2017, the Detroit region’s civilian labor force was greater than 2.5 million. Southeast Michigan is not short of skilled labor and is one of the area’s primary assets as a manufacturing location. This stable and well-educated workforce is ready and able to adapt to the changing needs of today’s technological innovations. In fact, Michigan is among the nation’s leaders for skilled manufacturing workers. The regional broad base of manufacturing expertise assists in the recruiting and training of staff.

In addition to a large pool of graduates from the area’s top-rated private universities and two-year colleges, regional Detroit employers have access to graduates from excellent schools including the University of Michigan, Wayne State University, Oakland University, and Eastern Michigan University.

Regional Detroit Largest Occupations

The Detroit region is a large employer of service and retail occupations, indicating its presence as a hub for all types of retailers as well as a growing center for the restaurant business. The Detroit region is also a renowned center for health care providers, demonstrated through its employment of over 55,000 registered nurses, a number that continues to grow each year.

Description	2017 Jobs	2017 Median Hourly Earnings
Retail Salespersons	83,448	$11.04
Combined Food Preparation and Serving	66,883	$9.52
Office Clerks, General	60,869	$15.97
Real Estate Sales Agents	59,628	$19.81
Assemblers and Fabricators, All Other, Including Team Assemblers	56,641	$17.71
Registered Nurses	55,492	$34.11
Customer Service Representatives	51,731	$15.89
Cashiers	48,416	$9.87
Waiters and Waitresses	44,902	$9.71
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners	43,503	$11.67
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	40,576	$18.01
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive	137,928	$17.10
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand	37,114	$13.86
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products	34,288	$26.73
Mechanical Engineers	34,053	$44.23
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists	33,889	$10.70
Stock Clerks and Order Fillers	32,775	$11.31
General and Operations Managers	32,597	$50.71
Postsecondary Teachers	31,341	$23.57
Personal Care Aides	31,262	$10.03

Source: Economic Modeling Specialists Int’l

Fastest Growing Occupations in the Detroit Region, Net Change

It is estimated that over the next ten years the Detroit region will add more than 182,000 jobs to its workforce. Management occupations lead the growth with an expected 20,000 positions forecast followed by Sales and related occupations and Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations.

Description	2017 Jobs	2026 Jobs	Net Change
Personal Care Aides	31,262	40,465	9,203
Real Estate Sales Agents	59,628	66,847	7,219
Registered Nurses	55,492	61,253	5,761
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists	33,889	39,526	5,637
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	40,576	46,072	5,496
Home Health Aides	24,478	29,903	5,425
Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food	66,883	71,878	4,995
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers	25,150	29,260	4,110
Software Developers, Applications	19,448	23,486	4,038
Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs	11,194	15,215	4,021
Managers, All Other	27,123	30,675	3,552
Postsecondary Teachers	31,341	34,773	3,432
General and Operations Managers	32,597	36,028	3,431
Mechanical Engineers	34,053	37,291	3,238
Personal Financial Advisors	20,624	23,796	3,172
Customer Service Representatives	51,731	54,829	3,098
Nonfarm Animal Caretakers	16,018	18,786	2,768
Construction Laborers	22,426	25,073	2,647
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers	24,676	27,246	2,570
Self-Enrichment Education Teachers	11,908	14,473	2,565
Total Forecasted Job Growth			86,378

Source: Economic Modeling Specialists Int’l

Highest Paid Occupations in the Detroit Region

The Detroit region is filled with expert health care practitioners and medical specialists. In 2017, highly specialized medical workers (anesthesiologists, surgeons, nurse anesthetists, orthodontists, etc.) all displayed median hourly earnings over $80.

Highest Paid Occupations 2017

Description	2017 Jobs	2017 Median Hourly Earnings
Surgeons	1,203	$99.50
Anesthesiologists	635	$95.26
Nurse Anesthetists	1,426	$91.23
Prosthodontists	14	$89.22
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons	105	$87.81
Orthodontists	106	$84.14
Psychiatrists	581	$83.59
Internists, General	2,104	$83.21
Dentists, All Other Specialists	94	$80.50
Dentists, General	3,314	$78.95

Source: Economic Modeling Specialists Int’l

STEM Occupations in the Detroit Region

With more than 200 occupational and educational programs granting nearly 33,000 STEM related degrees in 2017, the Detroit region develops professionals in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics while making sure it retains them. The current STEM workforce in metro Detroit totals over 425,000 workers.

Michigan leads the nation in mechanical and industrial engineering talent. There are more than 44,000 mechanical engineers and 28,000 industrial engineers employed throughout the state. Most of these engineers are employed with companies located within the Detroit region.

Computer and Mathematical Occupations

SOC	Description	2017 Jobs	2027 Jobs	2017 Avg. Hourly Earnings
11-3021	Computer and Information Systems Managers	7,012	7,766	$62.87
15-1111	Computer and Information Research Scientists	205	306	$47.75
15-1121	Computer Systems Analysts	13,750	14,419	$40.53
15-1122	Information Security Analysts	1,184	1,566	$45.96
15-1131	Computer Programmers	3,656	3,673	$32.59
15-1132	Software Developers, Applications	1,948	23,486	$44.82
15-1133	Software Developers, Systems Software	8,848	9,759	$42.68
15-1134	Web Developers	3,745	4,263	$24.19
15-1141	Database Administrators	1,969	2,146	$42.05
15-1142	Network and Computer Systems Administrators	5,562	5,970	$38.85
15-1143	Computer Network Architects	2,511	2,672	$49.52
15-1151	Computer User Support Specialists	12,310	13,308	$24.67
15-1199	Computer Occupations, All Other	7,026	7,564	$36.92
15-2011	Actuaries	239	286	$52.71
15-2021	Mathematicians	45	59	$41.43
15-2031	Operations Research Analysts	1,387	1,748	$42.35
15-2041	Statisticians	472	617	$40.11
15-2098	Miscellaneous Mathematical Science Occupations	34	38	$42.00

Source: Economic Modeling Specialists Int’l

Architecture and Engineering Occupations

SOC	Description	2017 Jobs	2026 Jobs	2017 Avg. Hourly Earnings
17-1011	Architects, Except Landscape and Naval	2,996	3,124	$32.93
17-1012	Landscape Architects	459	494	$28.20
17-1021	Cartographers and Photogrammetrists	209	242	$32.62
17-1022	Surveyors	715	942	$28.78
17-2011	Aerospace Engineers	236	356	$40.77
17-2021	Agricultural Engineers	22	24	$41.77
17-2031	Biomedical Engineers	40	161	$34.56
17-2041	Chemical Engineers	467	568	$51.08
17-2051	Civil Engineers	6,481	8,596	$38.37
17-2061	Computer Hardware Engineers	1,186	1,325	$42.48
17-2071	Electrical Engineers	7,412	8,463	$43.27
17-2072	Electronics Engineers, Except Computer	2,537	2,832	$41.51
17-2081	Environmental Engineers	889	1,052	$46.20
17-2111	Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors	514	562	$39.67
17-2112	Industrial Engineers	19,438	20,977	$44.86
17-2121	Marine Engineers and Naval Architects	198	244	$45.43
17-2131	Materials Engineers	874	935	$41.72
17-2141	Mechanical Engineers	34,053	37,291	$45.39
17-2151	Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers Mechanical Engineers	86	103	$45.28
17-2161	Nuclear Engineers	380	405	$45.74
17-2171	Petroleum Engineers	171	206	$60.10
17-2199	Engineers, All Other	6,416	6,824	$45.08
17-3011	Architectural and Civil Drafters	1,938	2,405	$23.85
17-3012	Electrical and Electronics Drafters	404	501	$25.37
17-3013	Mechanical Drafters	2,077	2,244	$27.91
17-3019	Drafters, All Other	260	314	$24.07
17-3021	Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians	254	304	$34.60
17-3022	Civil Engineering Technicians	1,377	1,799	$23.83
17-3023	Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technicians	2,077	2,355	$29.33
17-3024	Electro-Mechanical Technicians	342	378	$31.12
17-3025	Environmental Engineering Technicians	162	227	$25.23
17-3026	Industrial Engineering Technicians	2,808	2,833	$226.55
17-3027	Mechanical Engineering Technicians	3,603	3,783	$27.49
17-3029	Engineering Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other	1,615	1,774	$30.75
17-3031	Surveying and Mapping Technicians	765	945	$22.70

Source: Economic Modeling Specialists Int’l

SOC	Description	2017 Jobs	2026 Jobs	2017 Avg. Hourly Earnings
19-1012	Food Scientists and Technologists	358	389	$34.71
19-1013	Soil and Plant Scientists	203	226	$29.06
19-1021	Biochemists and Biophysicists	265	319	$38.58
19-1022	Microbiologists	189	223	$31.86
19-1023	Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists	81	99	$32.11
19-1029	Biological Scientists, All Other	282	334	$38.82
19-1031	Conservation Scientists	106	117	$30.45
19-1032	Foresters	66	67	$29.29
19-1041	Epidemiologists	85	92	$35.29
19-1042	Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists	2,102	2,334	$30.66
19-1099	Life Scientists, All Other	97	106	$37.06
19-2011	Astronomers	30	35	$58.10
19-2012	Physicists	175	271	$63.66
19-2021	Atmospheric and Space Scientists	67	139	$45.19
19-2031	Chemists	1,293	1,915	$39.02
19-2032	Materials Scientists	405	185	$48.68
19-2041	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health	68	1,493	$33.56
19-2042	Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers	426	500	$40.04
19-2043	Hydrologists	68	84	$37.89
19-2099	Physical Scientists, All Other	426	490	$40.65
19-3011	Economists	151	173	$44.90
19-3022	Survey Researchers	292	342	$26.85
19-3031	Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists	5,609	5,978	$39.27
19-3032	Industrial-Organizational Psychologists	32	26	$45.18
19-3039	Psychologists, All Other	541	623	$43.61
19-3041	Sociologist	51	66	$36.20
19-3051	Urban and Regional Planners	338	393	$30.94
19-3091	Anthropologists and Archaeologists	107	128	$29.17
19-3092	Geographers	24	34	$33.86
19-3094	Political Scientists	67	83	$44.99
19-3099	Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other	385	451	$35.24
19-4011	Agricultural and Food Science Technicians	219	254	$19.96
19-4021	Biological Technicians	711	847	$18.78
19-4031	Chemical Technicians	1,167	1,360	$23.54
19-4041	Geological and Petroleum Technicians	217	254	$25.55
19-4051	Nuclear Technicians	54	62	$42.07
19-4061	Social Science Research Assistants	680	757	$21.31
19-4091	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health	558	645	$24.07
19-4092	Forensic Science Technicians	177	183	$29.79
19-4093	Forest and Conservation Technicians	166	204	$19.14
19-4099	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other	2,500	2,709	$21.21
25-2023	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School	95	82	$27.34
25-2032	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School	467	445	$27.35
27-1021	Commercial and Industrial Designers	4,868	5,206	$35.71

Source: Economic Modeling Specialists Int’l

Health Care Occupations

SOC	Occupation Description	2017 Jobs	2026 Jobs	2017 Avg. Hourly Wages
29-1010	Chiropractors	952	979	$34.59
29-1020	Dentists	3,633	3,877	$85.25
29-1030	Dietitians and Nutritionists	1,368	1,485	$29.04
29-1040	Optometrists	1,069	1,192	$56.15
29-1050	Pharmacists	5,572	5,727	$55.52
29-1060	Physicians and Surgeons	23,154	24,204	$82.62
29-1070	Physician Assistants	2,691	3,290	$48.43
29-1080	Podiatrists	433	406	$48.77
29-1120	Therapists	16,028	18,621	$36.74
29-1130	Veterinarians	1,318	1,537	$45.11
29-1140	Registered Nurses	55,492	61,253	$34.43
29-1150	Nurse Anesthetists	1,426	1,529	$90.03
29-1160	Nurse Midwives	103	120	$46.38
29-1170	Nurse Practitioners	2,600	3,324	$50.23
29-1180	Audiologists	230	275	$35.35
29-1190	Miscellaneous Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners	1,570	1,795	$28.41
29-2010	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians	8,791	9,015	$37.53
29-2020	Dental Hygienists	5,787	6,338	$30.07
29-2030	Diagnostic Related Technologists and Technicians	8,519	9,051	$28.75
29-2040	Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics	3,673	4,219	$15.95
29-2050	Health Practitioner Support Technologists and Technicians	14,363	15,445	$16.98
29-2060	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses	8,673	10,376	$23.93
29-2070	Medical Records and Health Information Technicians	3,691	4,062	$19.66
29-2080	Opticians, Dispensing	2,061	2,278	$17.96
29-2090	Miscellaneous Health Technologists and Technicians	2,332	2,627	$26.63
29-9010	Occupational Health and Safety Specialists and Technicians	1,433	1,608	$35.66
29-9090	Miscellaneous Health Practitioners and Technical Workers	1,153	1,348	$33.92