Jobs in life sciences continue to grow in southeast Michigan and
continue to command the highest wages in the technology sector and
despite the auto industry decline, the area's economy is diverse enough
to thrive on its own.
The second annual Driving Southeast Michigan Forward report by
Anderson Economic Group shows that the region experienced job growth in three of six key technology segments between 2003-2004.
The
report concludes
that and concludes that despite recent declines in the automotive
sector, the Automation Alley region, which includes Wayne, Oakland,
Macomb, Livingston, Monroe, Genesee, St. Clair and Washtenaw counties,
is economically diverse enough to stand on its own.
According to
the report, between 2003 and 2004 the life sciences sector experienced
the largest employment increase among tech jobs at 2.9 percent,
bringing total employment to 34,500 life science technology jobs in
2004.
Wages fell slightly from 2003 but remained the highest in the region’s technology industry at $87,174.
Since 1998, the life sciences sector has increased employment by nearly 25 percent and wages by approximately 24 percent.
In
addition to life sciences, two other sectors of the region’s technology
economy also added jobs between 2003 and 2004, with the advanced
manufacturing sector growing by more than one percent, and the chemical
and material sector growing by 0.6 percent.
This growth
represents more than 400 new technology jobs. Sectors experiencing job
losses during this time include advanced automotive and information
technology.
Source: Anderson Economic Group, Automation Alley
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.