Michigan Veterans are Employed in Similar Industries and Occupations as Nonveterans, with Some Exceptions

Michigan’s veterans typically work in the state’s largest industries, similar to nonveterans. According the American Community Survey 2022 one-year data, the industries with the greatest concentration of veterans were Manufacturing (20.6 percent); Healthcare and social assistance services (10.0 percent); and Professional, scientific, and management (9.7 percent). This was similar to the distribution for nonveterans. The top three industries for veterans were within the top four industries for nonveterans. Nonveterans also found themselves employed the most in Manufacturing (17.0 percent) and Healthcare and social assistance services (14.6 percent), but Retail trade (11.4 percent) slightly edged out Professional, scientific, and management (10.1 percent) for the third highest industry among nonveterans.

Veterans also deviated from nonveterans in other key industries. Public administration accounted for 9.3 percent of veteran employment, while the same sector only employed 3.3 percent of nonveterans (a 6.0 percentage point difference). Conversely, only 4.3 percent of veterans were employed in the Arts, entertainment, and recreation and food services industry, a -5.5 percentage-point difference compared to nonveterans (9.8 percent). 

Michigan Veterans were more likely to be employed in the Manufacturing and Healthcare and social assistance services sectors.

Percent Distribution of Veterans and Nonveterans by Industry

Source: 2022 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, U.S. Census Bureau; IPUMS USA, University of Minnesota

Approximately 13.5 percent of Michigan veterans were concentrated in careers related to Transportation and material moving occupations, the highest concentration of veterans in any occupation group. Only 7.5 percent of nonveterans work in these occupations. Veterans were also employed at high rates in Production (12.3 percent) and Management (11.2 percent) occupations. These occupational groups were also one of the largest employers of nonveterans. Other occupational groups showed different employment trends for veterans and nonveterans. Veterans were less likely than nonveterans to be working in careers that fall into the Office and administrative support (6.3 percent); Food preparation and serving (1.6 percent); and Educational instruction, and library (2.0 percent) occupational groups. Careers in Office and administrative support (10.8 percent) employed the most nonveterans, while only employing 6.3 percent of veterans.

Veterans experienced much higher employment rates than nonveterans in Transportation; Protective services; and Production occupations in Michigan.

Percent Distribution of Veterans and Nonveterans by Occupation Group

Source: 2022 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, U.S. Census Bureau; IPUMS USA, University of Minnesota