Michigan Healthcare Jobs Are Exploding

Michigan used to be famous for making cars. Now it’s famous for making…medical appointments! The health care industry is creating more jobs than any other field in the state right now, and if Michigan’s economy were a group project, health care would be the one doing all the work while everyone else forgets to check their email.

‍

While it's great that at least one industry is rocking and rolling, it does shine the light on some unfortunate trends that we need to examine. Let's get into it!

‍

Here are Five Fast Facts on the healthcare industry in Michigan:

1. 👎 Underachieving - Michigan only added a measly 20k net jobs overall in 2025 (only a 0.52% bump from 2024), which, let's be honest, is pretty dismal.

2. 🥧 Biggest Piece Of The Pie - Of those 20k jobs, the health care industry snagged almost 55% of them, meaning over half the new jobs were doctors, nurses, and other medical folks. Stethoscope makers rejoice!

3. 📈 Trendy Growth - It's not just last year - health care jobs in Michigan have exploded nearly 45% since 2000, now topping more than 730k workers. Meanwhile, manufacturing (the old king of the hill) lost 1,600 jobs in 2025 and is down a huge 33% from its peak back in 2000.

4. 🧓 Getting Older Fast - Part of the reason is that the state's population is aging quickly - the average age is now almost 45 (up from 35 in 2000), making Michigan the 14th-oldest state. If only we could monetize repetitious storytelling somehow, we'd be in great shape!

5. 💸 More Money - People in Michigan are spending way more on health care, too. The average was over $6k per capita in 2014, but it's up to a whopping $9k in 2024! Not even inflation could keep up with that increase!

🔥Bottom line: Michigan's big economic "win" right now is basically a giant reminder that everyone’s getting older and needing more pills, check-ups, and hospital beds. Health care is saving the overall job numbers like coffee saves doctors from "accidentally" diagnosing everyone as "chronically annoying." We love that it's doing so well, but it does raise some questions about whether we need to shift our focus for the future of the state.

‍

Do you know anyone in the healthcare industry?

‍

Let us know by connecting with us on Facebook and Instagram! Also, remember to share this newsletter with your friends & coworkers!

‍

BTW, If you’ve read this far and haven’t yet signed up for the weekly Paycheckology newsletter, CLICK HERE!

‍