Employment Expected to Increase Marginally in the Capital Area Michigan Works! Area through 2032

The Michigan Center for Data and Analytics has recently released new regional long-term employment projections data for 2022–2032. These projections are published in odd-numbered years following updated statewide projections released the previous year. This article highlights key occupational projections data for the South Central Prosperity Region, which covers the same geography as the Capital Area Michigan Works! area.

Total employment in the Capital Area Michigan Works! region is expected to expand by 0.2 percent between 2022 and 2032. This trails the statewide growth rate of 0.6 percent over the same period. The regional growth rate is tied with Southwest Michigan and only the Detroit Metro and East Central regions have lower projected growth rates among Michigan’s prosperity regions.

Among major occupational groups, Healthcare support is projected to see the largest growth in the area, at 8.3 percent through 2032. However, this is the second lowest growth rate for the occupational group among Michigan’s prosperity regions, ahead of only Northwest Michigan (7.0 percent).

Installation, maintenance, and repair has the second largest projected growth rate in the Capital Area Michigan Works! area at 7.3 percent. This is the second highest growth rate for this occupational group statewide. The region has the highest projected growth rate in the state for Life, physical, and social science occupations (5.9 percent), just ahead of West Michigan.

There are a projected 23,660 annual openings in the Capital Area Michigan Works! area for the 10-year period ending in 2032. This accounts for just under 5 percent of Michigan’s total projected annual openings over the period. The occupational group with the most projected annual openings is Office and administrative support with just over 3,100. This is followed by Food preparation and serving related (3,025) and Transportation and material moving (2,500).

For an overview of projected changes for Michigan’s prosperity regions between 2022 and 2032, see this month’s feature article.