Popular opinion on college campuses today suggests that jobs are scarce around metro Grand Rapids and that local college graduates must flee the area in order to make a decent living. But conventional wisdom, it seems, is not always accurate.
Economic reports say the region will add thousands of new jobs in the next several years. And those on the frontlines of the debate – a regional economist, a career counselor, a recent graduate, and a current student interviewed for this story – are much more optimistic. They say plenty of opportunity exists for job seekers in west Michigan, especially for educated and energetic workers.
The region's booming health care industry and a growing technology sector now are fueling a growing number of employment prospects, according to Brian Waters, a regional economic analyst for the Michigan Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives. But that doesn’t mean students must concentrate strictly on medical or computer classes. The industries are also creating annual openings in high-growth occupations such accounting, engineering, and other skilled professions.
An outlook on the leading occupations in the Grand Rapids area is presented in Michigan Career Outlook Through 2012, a brochure published recently by the Bureau of Labor Market Information and the state Department of Labor & Economic Growth. According to the brochure – which specifically covers Allegan, Kent, and Ottawa counties – the top ten fastest-growing occupations in the region include:
- Home health aides (53.3 percent job growth)
- Computer engineers (49.6 percent growth)
- Medical assistants (44.5 percent growth)
- Computer systems analysts (44.4 percent growth)
- Management analysts (42.1 percent growth)
The brochure, which paints the picture of an economy shifting to service-related and high-skilled white collar jobs, also highlights considerable growth for pharmacists, teachers, and information technicians. Elementary school teachers, computer techs, legal professionals, mechanical and industrial engineers, and sales managers are among the top ten high-growth occupations requiring at least a bachelor’s degree.
More specifically, the brochure projects that by 2012 Grand Rapids will add nearly 1,700 nurses; more than 1,900 customer service reps; and some 1,800 sales reps with expertise in science and technology related products. It also predicts significant growth for a range of occupations ranging from lawyers to truck drivers.
Stepping into the Workplace
The state research confirms that the jobs are out there. So why do college students assume the worst of the local career scene? Ginger Lange, associate director of Grand Valley State University’s Career Services, said whether a graduate decides to relocate often depends on the students' background.
“The students that come from big cities are the ones that might have interest in going elsewhere,” Lange said. “For some people, Grand Rapids is the big city.”
The Career Services office helps students land internships, develop resumes and job search techniques, and refine interviewing skills. Lange works most directly with students and alumni pursuing careers in health or education related fields. She sees both ends of the employment spectrum because her work is divided between a health industry flush with opportunity and the teaching profession, where the market is tighter and students may choose to leave the area, but not necessarily because they want to.
“We wrestle a lot with encouraging people to move on when the market is tight,” said Lange, who often counsels teachers on out-of-state job searches.
Rachel Cullen is one graduate who opted to stay. After graduating in May 2005 with a degree in advertising and public relations from Grand Valley State University, Cullen took a job as an account executive for the Grand Rapids Press. Today, she sells advertising space for the newspaper and she sees first hand which industries are growing.
“My job keeps me in touch with all types of industries because I work with a wide variety of businesses," Cullen said. "So if the healthcare industry is booming – hospitals will advertise more with me." Cullen also sees growth in the regional information industry, as she sells web-based advertisements for the paper, too.
Originally from the Detroit Metro area, Cullen once thought finding a good local job would be difficult. But with determination and a little flexibility she was able to match her skills set with the right position. After originally applying at the Press' headquarters in Grand Rapids, the company offered her a position in their Holland-based lakeshore bureau.
“I think it can always be hard to find a job," Cullen said. "But if you’re offered a huge opportunity to work for the biggest newspaper in West Michigan staying is probably a good decision.”
Cullen moved to Holland to make her commute in to the office more convenient, and she occasionally comes to GR for meetings. She is happy to have landed a good-paying job in west Michigan. In fact, she does not have plans of going anywhere soon, she said.
“Holland is a growing city and it's comfortable,” Cullen said. “I love Holland because it is much slower-placed than where my parents live near Detroit. It has wide open spaces. It’s not as congested. And it’s safe with everything close – just three minutes from a grocery store.”
Should I Stay, or Go
Matthew Welsh, a 24-year-old senior majoring in information systems at Grand Valley State, will graduate in December 2007 and, at the moment, he is torn between staying in GR or moving to Chicago.
“I’ll probably put out a few applications in GR and see if something develops," Welsh said. "I’ll also apply to places in Chicago before actually moving. I think Chicago has just as many, if not more, job opportunities in the computer science or information systems field.”
Welsh is from what he considers one of the smaller towns in Michigan, Hesperia, and said it was the campus that attracted him to GVSU. His two sisters also attended the university. If offered a good paying job, he said he'd be inclined to stay in GR.
“As cities go, it’s pretty clean, pretty safe,” Welsh said.
The odds of him finding that job seem to be getting better. State economic research predicts that during the next six years nearly 1,000 jobs paying as much as $41 an hour will be available for someone with Welsh's skills.
Photographs by Brian Kelly - All Rights Reserved
Images:
Students at GVSU - downtown campus
GVSU Pew Campus
Strolling to class after work at GVSU
GVSU anchors the Near West Side of Grand Rapids