Mobility Tool

What Opportunities and Challenges Characterize Detroit's Labor Market Today?

This dashboard provides industry-level insight into Detroit's workforce – showing where people work and at what wage, how those sectors are growing, and what education needs look like – against a national benchmark. Use it to better understand the Detroit labor market, and how each major industry’s demand and growth exceed, match, or lag national benchmarks.

Labor Force Size2,157,934

Employment Growth0.3%

National Benchmark: 1.2%

Labor Force Participation Rate62.8%

National Benchmark: 62.3%

Unemployment Rate4.3%

National Benchmark: 4.3%

College Attainment Rate34.1%

National Benchmark: 42.0%

*Sources: BGI analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Community Survey, and Lightcast data

Sort by

Share of Total Labor Force

Location Quotient

Job Postings

Employment Growth

Pay

Non-BA Share of Workforce

Manufacturing

19.0%

114.0%

83,439

+5.1%

$55,000

60.5%

Health Care and Social Assistance

14.4%

5.0%

151,283

-2.8%

$43,680

55.6%

Retail Trade

10.4%

0.4%

90,218

-0.1%

$39,520

80.2%

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

7.6%

-15.5%

83,268

+4.2%

$72,437

32.0%

Educational Services

6.9%

-24.4%

24,264

-1.4%

$46,500

31.2%

Accommodation and Food Services

6.3%

-3.2%

51,900

+7.9%

$33,862

88.5%

Construction

5.6%

-18.9%

17,313

+1.7%

$54,028

85.0%

Finance and Insurance

5.1%

0.1%

30,944

-7.9%

$76,500

46.6%

Transportation and Warehousing

4.6%

-13.5%

19,196

-11.0%

$60,330

81.6%

Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services

4.4%

-2.0%

132,443

+21.6%

$62,500

76.9%

Other Services (except Public Administration)

4.3%

-8.8%

23,456

0.0%

$44,720

74.9%

Public Administration

3.3%

-37.7%

11,738

-13.0%

$68,530

48.7%

Wholesale Trade

2.0%

-14.4%

26,174

+1.0%

$42,640

65.4%

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation

1.8%

-17.1%

8,576

-5.6%

$36,400

64.8%

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing

1.7%

-17.8%

16,048

-12.2%

$42,640

66.1%

Information

1.3%

-38.0%

11,707

+4.7%

$62,192

50.0%

Utilities

0.7%

-9.5%

2,983

-26.9%

$64,750

60.8%

Significantly Below National Average

Below National Average

On par with National Average

Above National Average

Significantly Above National Average

*Sources: BGI analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Community Survey, and Lightcast data

Key Insights

Manufacturing is the Signature Specialization

It’s a huge base (≈ 19% of the local labor force) and 114% more concentrated than the nation. Employment is up 5% YoY (roughly in line with peers), but employer demand is soft relative to its size (postings below benchmark). Median pay is mid-tier ($54k).

Construction is Underrepresented and Not Surging

Share is under 6% and concentration is 19% below national. Growth and postings are on par.

Information Looks Like an Emerging Cluster

Despite being 38% below national concentration and only 1% of the labor force, employment grew nearly 5% (above benchmark).

Which Industries Can Drive Greater Economic Mobility in Detroit?* Click on a bubble to explore roles for this industry.

Explore how industries in Detroit compare in terms of talent mobility and employment growth. Use this tool to identify sectors that could benefit the most from upskilling or career pathways.Bubble size reflects the number of workers in each industry.

Mobility Gaps

Opportunity Engines

Redeployment Opportunities

Thinning Launchpads

Mobility Index

Employment Growth

How can Detroit Mobilize Talent to Strengthen Opportunity Engines?

This chart highlights the roles that merit recruiting, reskilling, or redesign focus.

Roles inEducation Level

Address Opportunity Gaps

Mobilize Now

Redeploy

Build On Strengths

Mobility Index

Talent Shortage Index

Which High-Mobility Roles Should Detroit Target to Unlock Opportunities?

This section highlights individual roles with high talent mobility – occupations where workers can transition into, grow, or move across roles more easily.

Roles in

High Mobility Roles with Talent Shortages in Detroit

Talent Flows into Accountants and Auditors

This chart shows transition pathways into Accountants and Auditors

Loading chart...

Feeder Roles

Select a role to see its feeder roles

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