Labor Market Trends

The best jobs for the future require an education and hard work. Education Trends:     College jobs will increase 27% faster then most jobs.   Bachelor’s degrees are required for the top growing jobs.   Associate’s degrees will be required for 4 out of 5 jobs.   Skill upgrade will be necessary for 4 out of 5 jobs.

Industry Trends:

• 7 out of 10 jobs will be in the service producing industries.

• State, local government, education, business service, social service, personnel supply and health care will provide the largest numbers of new jobs.

• Small businesses will create 90% of all new jobs.

• Retail will provide the bulk of the jobs with entry level pay.

• Transportation, telecommunications, construction, insurance and securities will only show moderate gains in growth.

• Non-durable goods such as apparel, textiles, petroleum, coal, plastics, paper and chemical products will decline in manufacturing.

• Automotive, finance, real estate and federal government related jobs will decrease.

Out-of-State Job Trends:

America's Career Infonet: State Profile -- Reviews state profiles of labor market information: per capita income; unemployment rates; the largest employment areas in the state; the fastest growing jobs; highest paying jobs; the jobs with the most openings and the largest employers. Each state is linked to more specific employment projections of careers and occupational wages. Sources include, the Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2001 and the Michigan Department of Career Development through 2008.

Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook: State and Local Information -- Projected occupational information and career information delivery systems for each state.

State Occupational Projections: 2002 - 2012 -- This site is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and allows for a key word search that provides quick facts on numerical and percentage changes and annual average openings per year.