Michigan Third in High Tech Jobs

Here is a great article from the Detroit free Press that reveals a growing trend for our state.  Let's jump on this band wagon!

Michigan ranks 3rd in high-tech job growth, study finds

2:45 PM, December 6, 2012 |  Detroit Free Press Staff

Michigan ranked third in the nation for high-tech job growth from 2010-2011, according to a study released today by the Bar Area Council Economic Institute.The report, which was touted by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, named Lansing as the 6th highest metro area in high-tech job growth in the U.S., and listed metro Detroit – specifically, Warren, Troy and Farmington – as 13th.“This is great news for the Lansing area and for the state of Michigan,” Travis Stoliker, marketing director of Liquid Web, a Lansing-based web hosting company, said in a prepared statement. “Now our challenge is to build on this positive momentum and continue to encourage and support technology startups, entrepreneurs, education and training."The study was commissioned by San Francisco-based Engine Advocacy, a political advocacy organization, and analyzed Bureau of Labor Statistics data.“Very few places in the world can match our technology leadership, R&D capabilities, and world-class workforce,” MEDC president and CEO Michael A. Finney said in a prepared statement. “These strengths make us a great location for high-tech innovators to grow their businesses and create jobs.”According to the report, high tech was a “consistent bright spot in the U.S. economy,” and a typical high-tech worker earns 17%-27% more than a comparable worker in another field.Other key findings:• Since 2004, employment growth in the high-tech sector has outpaced growth in the private sector as a whole by a ratio of 3-to-1.• Employment projections indicate that demand for high-tech workers will be stronger than for workers outside of high-tech at least through 2020• And income generated by the high-tech sector and the strong employment growth is important contributors to regional economic development.Michigan, with 6.9% annual growth, was ranked behind, Delaware, with 12.8% growth, and South Carolina, with 8.6%.Other states in the top 10 were Kansas, 6%; Washington 5.8%; Texas 4.7%; Ohio, 4.6%, and North Carolina, Alabama and Colorado – all at 4.3% growth.Among metro areas, Greensboro-High Point, N.C., led the pack with 36.3% annual growth; followed by Columbia, S.C., 28.6%; Dayton, Ohio, 24.2%; San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, Calif., 20.1%; and Ogden-Clearfield, Utah.