Overview
According to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS),
Machinery manufacturing is a subsector of the
Manufacturing sector. The subsector’s recent employment decline was largely concentrated by losses within its largest industry,
Metalworking machinery manufacturing, while employment numbers in other industries within the subsector remained relatively stable. This industry designs and creates mechanical machines used to perform industrial work or produce goods. It involves processes such as metal casting, forging, welding, assembling, and machining to manufacture industrial equipment.
Employment and Wages
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the
Machinery manufacturing industry employed roughly 66,600 workers in Michigan as of June 2025, accounting for around 1.7 percent of all employment statewide. Comparatively, the total industry employment only made up approximately 0.8 percent share within the United States. Between June 2024 and June 2025, the industry’s state workforce declined by 2.1 percent, or a loss of approximately 1,400 jobs. In Michigan, the industry’s median hourly wage was $28.79, which was 2.6 percent higher than the national average of $28.05.
Number of Businesses
In June 2025, there were approximately 3,100 private establishments in the
Machinery manufacturing industry. Small establishments, defined as those fewer than 50 employees, accounted for 2,800 businesses and employed 22,700 workers, representing 34.3 percent of the industry’s workforce. Medium-sized establishments, with 50 to 499 employees, totaled 310 and employed 36,600 people, more than half of the industry’s employment. Six large establishments (500 or more workers) employed roughly 6,900 employees, or 10.4 percent of total employment in the subsector.
Top Detailed Sectors with the Most Employees as of June 2025
- Metalworking machinery manufacturing: 27,900 jobs
- Other general purpose machinery manufacturing: 17,700 jobs
- Industrial machinery manufacturing: 6,900 jobs
- Engine, turbine, and power transmission equipment manufacturing: 4,900 jobs
- Ventilation, heating, air-conditioning, and mining machinery manufacturing: 3,000 jobs
Most Prevalent Occupations with the Most Workers in 2024
- Machinists: 8,200 workers, median hourly wage: $24.06
- Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators: 6,800 workers, median hourly wage: $22.32
- Mechanical engineers: 3,700 workers, median hourly wage: $39.72
Industry Outlook
Private employment in Michigan’s Machinery manufacturing subsector is projected to decline 3.0 percent between 2022 and 2032, losing approximately 2,040 jobs. This decline is at the same annual rate of 0.3 percent as the broader manufacturing sector and is less than the projected statewide all-industry average annual growth rate of 0.1 percent. Long-term employment declines in the Metalworking machinery manufacturing industry, which represents the largest share within the Machinery manufacturing sector, have contributed to the subsector’s current employment falling below the projected employment levels.
