[khfar]

My husband is in the finance industry, working for a large shipping company. We just got transferred here to MI, due to his promotion. I stay at home with our 2 kids.

[Adieoz]

I am a realtor and my husband is a builder. There is always opportunity...in fact this country produced the more millionaires during the Great Depression than at any other time. Thus we are having the best year of our careers because no matter what people are always going to have to have a roof over their heads.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by Adieoz

I am a realtor and my husband is a builder. There is always opportunity...in fact this country produced the more millionaires during the Great Depression than at any other time. Thus we are having the best year of our careers because no matter what people are always going to have to have a roof over their heads.

And water in their house!

[DawnW]

We are not in Michigan, but DH has been offered a job in the Detroit office several times. They are begging for accountants at the Detroit office.

I am a teacher and can teach ESL and see many jobs for that all over, even in hard areas to work. I just saw 4 ESL positions open in Detroit when I looked at their website a couple of days ago.

Dawn

[lillibette]

I live in the Ann Arbor-Brighton area, we have some very expensive homes in this area, and don't see too many for sale. It's the homes on the lakes and the mid-income range homes that seem to be up for sale.

ANYWAYS, my husband lost his job (Plant Manager for a Tier 1 supplier for the auto industry and not a small company) over a year ago when the company downsized. He hasn't been able to find a job anyway, in Michigan or out. (I think it's his age, mid 50's)

I had a retail gift shop in the Farmington Hills area for over 12 years, we did great until about a year ago. We just closed the store this month and are going strictly internet.

Michigan residents that are out of work are going to have a tough time finding jobs that pay what the made before.

[Cato the Elder]

So far, accountants, web producers, and physicians seem to be in high demand in metro Detroit - not really possible 2nd careers for middle-aged people, but probably explains some of the people moving in from out of state (like my wife and physician friend). How's it out west near GR? Anyone? Bueller?

[jeffncandace]

Originally Posted by Cato the Elder

So far, accountants, web producers, and physicians seem to be in high demand in metro Detroit - not really possible 2nd careers for middle-aged people, but probably explains some of the people moving in from out of state (like my wife and physician friend). How's it out west near GR? Anyone? Bueller?

I think Magellen can field that one. I know that generally, from my family who lives in the Metro area, that GR and in general western MI are doing leaps and bounds better than the Detroit area. That's not to say it's doing fabulous, but it's doing better in comparison.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by jeffncandace

I think Magellen can field that one. I know that generally, from my family who lives in the Metro area, that GR and in general western MI are doing leaps and bounds better than the Detroit area. That's not to say it's doing fabulous, but it's doing better in comparison.

Exactly. If you look at the Bureau of Labor Statistics charts you can clearly see the difference in West Michigan:

Bureau of Labor Statistics Data (Grand Rapids-Wyoming)
Bureau of Labor Statistics Data (Holland-Grand Haven)
Bureau of Labor Statistics Data (Muskegon)

Bottom out in 03, upswing trend since then.

Now compared to Michigan and Detroit Metro:

Bureau of Labor Statistics Data
Bureau of Labor Statistics Data

For the Grand Rapids area, residential construction is down, professional and business service is up, financial services is up, information technology is level, healthcare is way up, manufacturing is leveling off (from bottoming out), leisure and hospitality is up, trade-transportation-utilities is down.

Here is the chart for health services for metro GR:

Bureau of Labor Statistics Data

I was just reading in the Press that there is actually a consortium of the local health sciences industry that has been set up to transition people from manufacturing and other skills to health sciences. There is a drastic shortage and there is still a stigma with Michigan and trying to get people to move here. They will retrain people of virtually any age. Even if you don't want to work directly in healthcare, there will be a lot of spinoff services that these 4000 or so new researchers, MSU staff/med students and healthcare workers will need.

I'll have to see if I can track down the article.

Ah, here it is:

WOODTV.com & WOOD TV8 - Grand Rapids news, weather, sports and video - Workers move from manufacturing to medicine

In fact, on another GR forum people post construction photos of all the healthcare projects going on downtown. Here are just a few of them:

















Sorry for such a long response to such a short question Jeff.

[Cato the Elder]

Great pics, Mag. Here's hoping that the move of MSU's DO program to Detroit will result in bigger and better things for the Southeast also. Land to build will probably be even cheaper in Detroit than GR!

[Angel Bear]

I'm a life coach...

My husband is an engineer...