Demand for Skilled Labor

::  A study by Michigan Future Inc. used the Current Population Survey to identify good paying occupations in the Great Lakes region. A "good paying occupation" was defined as a job that that earned at least $30,000 a year. The study assessed the growth occurring in these occupations and whether or not they required college degrees. Eighty-eight occupations were identified - 41 that required four-year degrees, and 47 that did not. All of the 47 occupations that did not require a four-year degree did however require some sort of post-high school training, including on-the-job training, apprenticeship, community college or technical school training.

::  Of the 88 occupations paying over $30,000 per year, 30 were identified as fast growing under the criteria of needing at least 15,000 new workers and a 20 percent increase during a five-year period. Of the fast growing occupations, 18 do not require a college degree.

::   The 18 fastest growing occupations, which do not require a college degree, are:

• Rail & water transportation
• Firefighting & fire prevention
• Boilermakers, patternmakers & other precision metalworking
• Science technicians
• Industrial, mechanical & other engineering technicians
• Supervisors, construction
• Electricians & electrical power installers
• Plumbers, pipe fitters, & steamfitters
• Postal clerks, mail carriers, postal service
• Managers, medicine & health
• Production coordinators
• Sales workers, motor vehicles & boats
• Manager, properties & real estate
• Purchasing agents & buyers
• Brick masons & tile setters
• Truck driver
• Clinical laboratory & radiological technicians
• Machinist