The Hot Jobs! List
If you’re in the market for a new job, this is the list for you. The Hot Jobs! list can help guide you to new employment in a high-demand career. We’ve analyzed online job posting data and surveyed employers to create a list of the 100 highest-growing and most in-demand jobs in West Michigan.
- These occupations meet the criteria for Michigan Works! training scholarships.
- The agriculture industry, including farming and food production, accounts for nearly 10,000 jobs and $300 million in labor income in the region. Many of the high-demand occupations within agriculture overlap other industries.
- Minimum education and training requirements are based on regional employers’ current hiring practices.
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- CONSTRUCTION/
ENERGY - HEALTH SCIENCES
- INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
- MANUFACTURING
- PROFESSIONAL/
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
Positions | Median Hourly Earnings | 2014-24 Projected Growth | 2014-2024 Annual Openings | Minimum Education or Training Requirements* |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architects | $31.59 | 11.4% | 10 | Bachelor's degree, Internship | |||
 | Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $17.90 | 32.3% | 20 | Apprenticeship | ||
 |  | | Carpenters | $14.65 | 18.2% | 98 | Apprenticeship |
 | | Civil Engineers | $34.37 | 14.8% | 39 | Bachelor's degree, License | |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $26.92 | 11.5% | 11 | 5+ years work experience, Moderate-term O.J.T. | ||
| | | Construction Laborers | $13.65 | 21.8% | 194 | Short-term O.J.T. |
| | Construction Managers | $17.26 | 11.2% | 37 | Bachelor's degree, Moderate-term O.J.T. | |
| | Cost Estimators | $26.41 | 16.8% | 58 | Bachelor's degree, Moderate-term O.J.T. | |
| Electrical Engineers | $34.64 | 11.0% | 36 | Bachelor's degree | ||
| | Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | $34.38 | 26.3% | 55 | Certification, Apprenticeship | |
| | Electricians | $23.06 | 21.9% | 114 | License, Apprenticeship | |
| | First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $25.27 | 19.4% | 58 | License, 5+ years work experience | |
| Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $19.01 | 22.8% | 53 | Certification, Long-term O.J.T. | ||
| | | Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $20.26 | 15.3% | 40 | Certification, Moderate-term O.J.T. |
|  | Plumbers, Pipefitters and Steamfitters | $20.72 | 20.2% | 62 | License, Apprenticeship | |
| Sheet Metal Workers | $21.71 | 17.8% | 26 | Apprenticeship |
Positions | Median Hourly Earnings | 2014-24 Annual Openings | 2014-24 Annual Openings | Minimum Education or Training Requirements* |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $23.07 | 32.6% | 11 | Associate's degree, Certification | ||
| | Child, Family, and School Social Workers | $22.44 | 8.9% | 75 | Bachelor's degree, License | |
| | Dental Hygienists | $29.51 | 8.3% | 33 | Associate's degree, License | |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | $28.86 | 32.6% | 22 | Associate's degree | ||
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $29.27 | 21.2% | 9 | Bachelor's degree, Residency | ||
| Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics | $15.67 | 19.5% | 22 | Certification, License | ||
| Health Educators | $24.53 | 18.2% | 12 | Bachelor's degree | |||
| | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $20.99 | 9.9% | 98 | License | |
| | Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians | $14.61 | 20.2% | 44 | Associate's degree, Certification, License | |
| | Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists | $27.92 | 20.3% | 46 | Bachelor's degree, Certification, License | |
| | Medical and Health Services Managers | $42.88 | 19.3% | 85 | Bachelor's degree, <5 years work experience | |
| Medical and Public Health Social Workers | $26.16 | 22.2% | 48 | Master's degree, License, Residency | ||
| | Medical Assistants | $15.85 | 17.3% | 99 | Certification | |
| Medical Equipment Preparers | $15.57 | 23.2% | 12 | Certification, Moderate-term O.J.T. | |||
| Medical Records and Health Information Technicians | $17.12 | 17.9% | 23 | Certification | ||
| Nurse Practitioners | $47.20 | 33.3% | 17 | Master's degree, License | ||
| | Nursing Assistants | $13.45 | 16.2% | 309 | Certification, License | |
| Occupational Therapist Assistants | $22.27 | 37.7% | 23 | Associate's degree | ||
| | Occupational Therapists | $33.54 | 26.5% | 43 | Master's degree, License | |
| Personal and Home Care Aides | $10.54 | 26.0% | 126 | Certification, Short-term O.J.T. | ||
| | Pharmacy Technicians | $14.79 | 12.6% | 32 | Certification, License, Moderate-term O.J.T. | |
| Phlebotomists | $12.48 | 24.7% | 19 | Certification | ||
| | Physical Therapist Assistants | $22.51 | 37.2% | 54 | Associate's degree, License | |
| | Physical Therapists | $39.06 | 31.7% | 94 | Doctoral or professional degree, License | |
| | Physician Assistants | $52.05 | 27.0% | 31 | Master's degree, License | |
| | Physicians and Surgeons, All Other | $106.74 | 16.3% | 41 | Doctoral or professional degree, License, Residency | |
| | Radiologic Technologists | $24.33 | 14.2% | 30 | Associate's degree, Certification | |
| | Registered Nurses | $29.06 | 23.9% | 650 | Bachelor's degree,License | |
| | Respiratory Therapists | $26.05 | 24.4% | 31 | Associate's degree, License | |
| Speech-Language Pathologists | $34.24 | 14.6% | 25 | Master's degree, License, Residency | ||
| Surgical Technologists | $19.83 | 22.0% | 20 | Certification |
Positions | Median Hourly Earnings | 2014-24 Projected Growth | 2014-24 Annual Openings | Minimum Education or Training Requirements* |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $45.92 | 13.6% | 23 | Bachelor's degree, 5+ years work experience | ||
| Computer Network Architects | $30.15 | 18.2% | 9 | Bachelor's degree, 5+ years work experience | ||
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $22.84 | 10.3% | 16 | Bachelor's degree | |||
| | Computer Systems Analysts | $31.39 | 22.8% | 47 | Bachelor's degree | |
| | Computer User Support Specialists | $22.15 | 15.9% | 80 | Some college, no degree, Certification | |
| Database Administrators | $35.39 | 10.9% | 10 | Bachelor's degree | ||
| Information Security Analysts | $37.29 | 22.2% | 3 | Bachelor's degree, <5 years work experience | ||
| | Management Analysts | $32.57 | 19.4% | 45 | Bachelor's degree, <5 years work experience | |
| | Network and Computer Systems Architects & Administrators | $31.69 | 10.8% | 31 | Bachelor's degree | |
| | Software Developers, Applications | $32.58 | 24.4% | 65 | Bachelor's degree | |
| Software Developers, Systems Software | $37.88 | 11.0% | 30 | Bachelor's degree | ||
| Web Developers | $18.35 | 27.2% | 16 | Associate's degree |
Positions | Median Hourly Earnings | 2014-24 Projected Growth | 2014-24 Annual Openings | Minimum Education or Training Requirements* |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $24.75 | 7.4% | 21 | Bachelor's degree | ||
| | Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operators, Metal and Plastic | $17.34 | 33.7% | 187 | Certification, Moderate-term O.J.T. | |
| | Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technicians | $24.29 | 7.49% | 30 | Associate's degree | |
| Engineering Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $20.64 | 13.5% | 10 | Associate's degree | |||
| Engineers, All Others | $34.16 | 11.6% | 25 | Bachelor's degree | |||
| | First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers and Repairers | $29.50 | 11.2% | 84 | <5 years work experience | |
| | First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $26.90 | 8.3% | 149 | <5 years work experience | |
| | Industrial Engineering Technicians | $21.62 | 8.3% | 52 | Associate's degree | |
| Industrial Engineers | $35.88 | 12.6% | 176 | Bachelor's degree | ||
| | | Industrial Machinery Mechanics | $21.77 | 31.9% | 166 | Apprenticeship, Long-term O.J.T. |
| | | Industrial Production Managers | $46.21 | 6.5% | 81 | Bachelor's degree, 5+ years work experience |
| | | Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $13.97 | 11.8% | 151 | Certification, Short-term O.J.T. |
| | | Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers and Weighers | $14.42 | 10.0% | 222 | Moderate-term O.J.T. |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $12.01 | 11.8% | 687 | Short-term O.J.T. | ||
| | Machinists | $18.20 | 21.4% | 244 | Certification, Long-term O.J.T. | |
| | | Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | $17.56 | 9.90% | 261 | Certification, Moderate-term O.J.T. |
| | Maintenance Workers, Machinery | $20.01 | 20.0% | 18 | Certification, Long-term O.J.T. | |
| Mechanical Engineering Technicians | $22.76 | 10.8% | 14 | Associate's degree | ||
| Mechanical Engineers | $33.18 | 13.0% | 117 | Bachelor's degree | ||
| Millwrights | $31.08 | 24.0% | 17 | Apprenticeship | ||
| | Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic | $13.70 | 10.1% | 49 | Certification, Moderate-term O.J.T. | |
| Numerical Tool and Process Control Programmers | $22.17 | 33.0% | 29 | Certification, Moderate-term O.J.T. | |||
| | Production Workers, All Others | $15.39 | 14.3% | 90 | Moderate-term O.J.T. | |
| | | Welders, Cutters, Solderers and Brazers | $16.72 | 12.5% | 105 | Certification, Moderate-term O.J.T. |
Positions | Median Hourly Earnings | 2014-24 Projected Growth | 2014-24 Annual Openings | Minimum Education or Training Requirements* |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | Accountants and Auditors | $28.10 | 14.8% | 180 | Bachelor's degree |
| | Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics | $15.05 | 7.2% | 123 | Certification, Short-term O.J.T. | |
| | | Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists | $19.89 | 13.3% | 42 | Certification, Long-term O.J.T. |
| | | Financial Managers | $41.39 | 10.6% | 74 | Bachelor's degree, 5+ years work experience |
| | General and Operations Managers | $45.46 | 10.8% | 335 | Bachelor's degree, 5+ years work experience | |
| | | Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $18.92 | 7.6% | 313 | Certification, Short-term O.J.T. |
| | Human Resources Managers | $37.24 | 11.8% | 24 | Bachelor's degree, 5+ years work experience | |
| | Insurance Sales Agents | $23.78 | 15.1% | 128 | Certification, Moderate-term O.J.T. | |
| Lawyers | $38.16 | 8.8% | 45 | Doctoral or professional degree | ||
| | Managers, All Other | $17.39 | 8.6% | 113 | Bachelor's degree, <5 years work experience | |
| | Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $25.91 | 22.8% | 67 | Bachelor's degree | |
| Marketing Managers | $38.79 | 14.7% | 22 | Bachelor's degree, 5+ years work experience | ||
| | Personal Financial Advisors | $35.36 | 18.7% | 45 | Bachelor's degree, Long-term O.J.T. | |
| | Sales Managers | $47.32 | 7.8% | 56 | Bachelor's degree, <5 years work experience | |
| | | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, except Technical and Scientific Products | $26.44 | 9.0% | 347 | Certification, Moderate-term O.J.T. |
| Teacher Assistants | $12.77 | 10.9% | 262 | Some College, No Degree | ||
| | Training and Development Specialists | $26.08 | 13.5% | 32 | Bachelor's degree, <5 years work experience |
*Annual wage
Methodology
Data Collection
Occupational data was obtained from the analytical program, EMSI, and the State of Michigan Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives.
Data and employer feedback were used to determine the industry focus for our region: manufacturing, health sciences, information technology, construction and energy, professional services, and agriculture.
Internal and Employer Review Process
Each county-specific list was presented to West Michigan Works! staff and employers within region wide industry councils for anecdotal feedback and insight into hiring needs that may not be represented or overrepresented by job posting data. Occupations that report less than 30 jobs and a median wage of less than $13.00 per hour were removed.
Sources:
Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI), http://www.economicmodeling.com/data-sources/
O*Net O*NET OnLine. National Center for O*NET Development, http://www.onetonline.org/
Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://www.bls.gov/data/
Michigan DTMB Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, http://milmi.org/default.aspx