Profile: Industry Trends
Figure 1: Employment by Industry, 2023
The Detroit Region employs over 2.3 million people in industries spread across 11 counties. The primary industries in the Detroit region are:
- Trade, Transportation, and Utilities: 19% of employment
- Professional and Business Services: 17%
- Health Services and Private Education: 16%
- Government: 12%
- Manufacturing: 12%
Between 2012 and 2023, all Detroit industries except Information experienced growth. The highest growth sectors by employment during this 10-year period were Natural Resources and Mining (49.6%), Construction (45.5%), and Financial Activities (12.7%). The Natural Resources and Mining, Construction, and Manufacturing sectors in the Detroit region grew faster than the national average (29.6, 5.5, and 3.3 percentage points, respectively). The Professional and Business Services industry grew slower than the national average by 13.5 percentage points.
Figure 2: Employment by County, 2023
Most employment in the Detroit region is concentrated across five major counties, though the combined employment in the less dense counties is also significant. Oakland County leads with 726,061 jobs and 31% of regional employment. Wayne County is nearly equivalent, with 719,731 jobs and 31% of regional employment. The next largest counties by employment are Macomb County with 14% of regional jobs, Washtenaw County with 9%, and Genesee County with 6%.
Employment declined in Lenawee County (-5.5%), Shiawassee County (-2.9%), and St. Clair County (-44%) between 2013 and 2023. These job losses were compensated for by employment growth in the remaining counties. By growth rate, employment increases were largest in Livingston County (22.4%), Macomb County (12.8%), Washtenaw County (9.9%), and Oakland County (7%).
The largest increases in raw employment were in Oakland County and Macomb County, adding 47,496 and 38,508 jobs respectively.
Figure 3: Employment by County, Total % Growth, 2013-2023
