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 - Page 7 -[Employment Trends by Industry Sector] 28.3% of the employment in the West Central region is in Goods Producing industries, including construction and mining operations and manufacturing. This remains somewhat above the state average of 25.7% working in the goods producing area. Employment in the Service Producing area at 71.7% is somewhat lower in the West Central region than the 74.3% for the state as a whole. These ratios are influenced by the higher proportion of workers in government, 28.2% for West Central versus 14.6% for the state. The high governmental employment figure is partially attributed to Ferris State University, whose employees count as governmental employment as Ferris is a state institution. Goods producing occupations, particularly in construction is growing much faster than the regional average, however this represents about 850 workers. The growth in the service area is greatest in the Retail Trade area (1,200 jobs from 1993 to 1998) and 1,225 jobs in the general services area. The trend continues with a growth of 1,025 jobs projected in the general service area from 1996 to 2006, which is a growth rate of 10.5%. Other occupations have larger percentage growth rates but smaller employment numbers. The second largest growth in terms of the number of workers in the Professional Speciality area where a growth of 935 jobs is anticipated from 1996 to 2006. However, many of the openings in this area are expected to be replacement workers for those who retire or leave this field. Largest numerical growth is expected in the Service Area and includes cashiers, general managers and sales workers.
[Source: Michigan Department of Career Development Office of Labor Market Information] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||