2026 Michigan Manufacturing Industry Workforce Analysis
Talent Pipeline

Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), National Center for Education Statistics

While more than three-quarters of postsecondary completions in the 2024-25 academic year related to Manufacturing were for those obtaining a bachelor's degree or greater, nearly 9 percent of completions were in postsecondary nondegree awards or certificates. Welding technology/welder (530) accounted for nearly 20 percent of completions in this category. This was followed by truck and bus driver/commercial vehicle operator and instructor (260); business administration and management, general (210); and industrial mechanics and maintenance technology/technician (190). While these programs play a smaller role in the number of completions relating to the Manufacturing sector, they can still lead to occupations important to the sector.

Associate degree completers accounted for just over 12 percent of Manufacturing-related postsecondary degrees. One-third of the 3,740 associate degree completers that related to Manufacturing were in business administration and management, general (1,250). Business/commerce, general (760) also had a large representation among associate degree completers. 

Bachelor’s degree completers made up over half of postsecondary completions related to Manufacturing. More than 15 percent of these completions were in business administration and management (2,500). This was followed by finance (1,460); mechanical engineering (1,420); marketing/marketing management (1,320); and accounting (1,210).

At the master’s degree level, which accounted for about one-quarter of postsecondary completions related to Manufacturing, business administration and management (2,260) accounted for nearly 30 percent of degrees. The remaining master’s degree completers cover a diverse array of programs, including information technology (530); information science/studies (360); mechanical engineering (350); and electrical and computer engineering (350).

Doctoral or professional degrees made up a small share of postsecondary completions related to Manufacturing in the 2024-25 academic year. Top programs among this level included mechanical engineering (100) and computer engineering (50).There were eight universities across the state with at least 1,000 completions of bachelor's degrees or higher related to Manufacturing. The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor was responsible for 5,450, more than one-fifth of all completions. Michigan State University had the second most with 2,720, followed by Wayne State University (1,700); Michigan Technological University (1,370); and Central Michigan University (1,260).

Registered Apprenticeships

Source: Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Data System (RAPIDS), Office of Apprenticeship, U.S. Department of Labor

Manufacturing is considered a traditional Registered Apprenticeship sector along with Construction. These two sectors tend to account for the majority of registered apprentices in Michigan. 

In 2025, the Manufacturing sector had nearly 3,800 active registered apprentices. This accounted for more than 16 percent of all active registered apprentices across the state. Nearly 60 percent of Manufacturing active registered apprentices were in the Auto subsector. Metals and Machinery had the next largest share at 14 percent and 12 percent, respectively.

Manufacturing has had over 1,000 new registered apprentices for eight years since 2015. The number of new registered apprentices in the sector rose to 1,310 in 2023 and has dipped to 1,040 and 1,030 in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

There have been more than 600 completers in Manufacturing Registered Apprenticeship programs each year since 2018, except for 2024. Completers peaked in the sector in 2020 and declined through 2024 as the number of new registered apprentices in Manufacturing dipped during the pandemic. Completers increased in 2025 as new registered apprentices recovered in the sector.

Source: Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Data System (RAPIDS), Office of Apprenticeship, U.S. Department of Labor

The Manufacturing sector had a much lower share of youth ages 16 to 24 among active registered apprentices than the total statewide numbers. This was not ubiquitous across all Manufacturing subsectors. The Auto subsector, the largest subsector in Manufacturing, had youth representation of just 6 percent. Other subsectors, such as Machinery and Metals, had youth shares of 46 percent and 38 percent, respectively. Manufacturing had similar shares of women active registered apprentices to the rest of the state, and slight overrepresentation among people of color and veterans.