Lisa Katz| Crain’s Detroit Blog
Why training and education matter: Part II
It is increasingly clear that middle-skill jobs are critical for Detroit’s economic growth and for job seekers working to increase their wages. Another recent blog post underscored the following about the importance of middle-skilled jobs for Southeast Michigan:
- Middle-skill jobs are those that require post-secondary training but not a degree and pay $15 or more per hour.
- 37 percent of job growth in the coming five years will be in middle-skill jobs.
- There will be negative growth in jobs that do not require any post-secondary training. Jobs for workers with a high school education or less are disappearing. In order to find a job, some level of post-secondary training in an in-demand field is necessary.
- Each $1 per hour wage increase raises an individual’s annual salary by $1,200 (assuming a 40 hour week). This means that going from a $10 per hour job to a $15 per hour middle skill job will move a worker’s annual wages from $20,800 to $31,200. Moving to $20 per hour will increase wages to $41,600 annually.
Middle-skill jobs have a clear definition, but what occupations fit the description and which ones are growing in this region?
Top trending middle-skill jobs in Southeast Michigan
WIN researchers have defined top trending middle-skill jobs as those that are projected to grow by more than 10 percent. The table below highlights Southeast Michigan’s current top trending middle-skill jobs. All of the jobs listed below are projected to grow by at least 150 employees by 2019, net growth.
| Typical Entry-Level Education | Description | 2013 Regional Degree and Certificate Completions | 2014 Job Postings | Average Hourly Wage 2013 |
| Associate’s Degree | Chemical Technicians | 0 | 92 | $19.94 |
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians | 343 | 212 | $17.03 | |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | 289 | 270 | $25.20 | |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 349 | 553 | $21.78 | |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | 270 | 246 | $28.69 | |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | 288 | 647 | $23.86 | |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | 357 | 94 | $15.37 | |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 707 | 1,122 | $22.36 |
| Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics | 481 | 428 | $15.04 | |
| Surgical Technologists | 521 | 290 | $20.22 |
The vast majority of these jobs are health care occupations, which are projected to grow rapidly as the state’s population ages and needs access to more health care. Right now, degree and certificate completions are close to demand for some occupations but not all. In 2013, there were no regional degree completions for workers certified as chemical technicians yet there were nearly 100 job postings in the region for workers with these skills. For surgical technologists it looks as though supply is outpacing demand, but that may not be the case. Employers need to ensure an adequate supply of talent not only to grow their companies but also to replace workers when they retire or move on to other careers. Job posting demand reflects both replacement (or turnover) needs as well as increases. Completions are not necessarily enough to fill employer needs.
Where in Southeast Michigan can a worker go to increase their skills to be fit for one of the top 10 middle-skill jobs? The region’s community colleges provide training in all but one of the top 10 middle-skill fields.
| Occupation | Community College Programs in Southeast Michigan |
| Chemical Technicians | no community college programs |
| Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians | Monroe County Community College Macomb Community College |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | Henry Ford College |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | Henry Ford College Macomb Community College Mott Community College Washtenaw Community College |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | Monroe County Community College Mott Community College Oakland Community College |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | Henry Ford College Macomb Community College Mott Community College Oakland Community College Wayne County Community College District |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | Macomb Community College Wayne County Community College District |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | Henry Ford College Monroe County Community College Mott Community College Oakland Community College Schoolcraft College St Clair County Community College |
| Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics | Henry Ford College Macomb Community College Mott Community College Oakland Community College Schoolcraft College Wayne County Community College District |
| Surgical Technologists | Henry Ford College Macomb Community College Oakland Community College Wayne County Community College District |
| Data: EMSI |
These jobs are also more prevalent in certain cities in the region. Detroit, Ann Arbor, Troy, Flint and Southfield are among the top cities for middle-skill job demand. Not surprisingly, many health providers are also located in these cities.
Career pathways past middle-skill
Middle-skill jobs are called middle-skill for a reason. They often are considered the mid-point along a career pathway that starts with an entry-level job, moves into a middle-skill job requiring more education, and could move to an even higher level job requiring even more education, training and experience but also paying a higher wage.
In the next, and final, blog post in this series the WIN team will explore the career pathways available to workers who can use middle skill jobs as a jumping off point to even more career success.
For more information on where to find business services, new employment, or credential programs by geographic location, visit Michigan Works! or community college.
Note: WIN’s research team will be exploring middle-skill jobs throughout the months of February and March. Watch for a full report about middle-skill jobs in Southeast Michigan and a followup blog post about middle-skills career pathways. For more data and research from WIN see the website at win-semich.org.
This blog post was prepared with research and content from Colby Spencer-Cesaro, director for research, workforce Intelligence Network.