Skilled Trades and Technicians

SKILLED TRADES AND TECHNICIANS OCCUPATION GROUP

WIN’s technicians/skilled trades category includes jobs related to advanced manufacturing. Southeast Michigan has more demand for skilled- trades labor, such as CNC machinists and welders, than almost anywhere else in the country. There are about 21,000 openings for these workers annually.

NOTE: Skilled trades related to construction and assembly are not included in this cluster, as the focus is on advanced manufacturing only.

Employment Over Time 2011-2021

263,941 Skilled Trades Workers 0.6% Decrease from 2020

Skilled Trades Worker Demographics

According to 2021 Emsi data, the skilled trades occupation group employed about 263,941 workers in the state of Michigan. The majority of skilled trades workers are male (86.1 percent) between the ages of 25 and 54 (65.8 percent). Due to the aging workforce, additional outreach will be necessary as 27.3 percent are 55 years of age or older.

13.9% Female Worker Gender Demographics

86.1% Male

Race and Ethnicity Demographics 80.9% White | 10.1% Black or African-American | 5.2% Hispanic or Latino

Worker Age Demographics

SKILLED TRADES AND TECHNICIANS OCCUPATION GROUP

Top Posted Jobs

Maintenance and Repair Workers, General was the highest in-demand skilled trades occupation during 2021, with 18,530 postings. Other top posted jobs include Production Workers, All Other (15,087 postings), First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers (6,062 postings), Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians (5,390 postings), and Calibration Technologists and Technicians and Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other (4,972 postings).

SKILLED TRADES AND TECHNICIANS OCCUPATION GROUP

Wage Overview

Most of the top ten in-demand skilled trades occupations have median wages above $19.00 per hour, while the remaining top occupations have median wages above $13.00 per hour. Maintenance and Repair Workers, General, the top posted skilled trades job in 2021, offers a median hourly wage of $18.08, which translates to an annual salary of about $37,606.

Wage Overview for Top Posted Skilled Trades Jobs in 2021

In-Demand Technical Skills

 Machinery  Machine Operation  Plumbing  HVAC  Packaging And Labeling  Communications  Operations  Troubleshooting  Management  Valid Driver's License

In-Demand Education Level*

 High School Diploma: 43.9%  Associate Degree: 11.1%  Bachelor's Degree: 10.1%  Master's Degree: 1.3%

*Not all job postings indicate the required educational attainment level, therefore the percentages found here may not add up to 100 percent

In-Demand Foundational Skills In-Demand Certifications

Top Posting Employers Job Postings by City

 Commercial Driver's License (CDL)  HVAC Certification  Certified Forklift Operator  Security Clearance  Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Certification

 Aerotek  ManpowerGroup  Adecco  ResourceMFG  Sentech Services  Trillium Staffing  McDonald's  General Motors  Kelly Services  Nesco Resource 1. Grand Rapids: 6,601 Postings 2. Detroit: 4,782 Postings 3. Warren: 2,255 Postings 4. Lansing: 2,171 Postings 5. Holland: 2,127 Postings 6. Ann Arbor: 1,752 Postings 7. Sterling Heights: 1,722 Postings 8. Livonia: 1,558 Postings 9. Troy: 1,550 Postings 10. Auburn Hills: 1,523 Postings