People Are Leaving This Michigan City in Droves

Michigan is a great state to live, in my opinion. We have all the seasons and the warm, friendly folks of the Midwest. But, people are leaving one Michigan city in droves. It's actually in the top five cities in the U.S. with the most declining population. Crazy, right?

The new study comes from FinanceBuzz.com. The staff studied America's biggest cities, "including population, jobs, earnings, and other metrics to find which cities are booming and which ones are going bust." FinanceBuzz.com also adds, "Cities are constantly evolving, and not always in the same ways. While one city may have solid finances and a growing population, another may see its people and prosperity trickle away." As for methodology, the FinanceBuzz crew looked at and studied more than 100 of America's biggest cities and found the fastest-rising and fastest-declining places in the country.

Before we get to our state, let's look at some key findings. San Francisco, California; New Orleans, Louisiana; and New York, New York, are the fastest-declining cities in the U.S., according to the study. San Francisco is No. 1, as the city's population has dropped by 8.29% since 2019. It's "the sharpest drop of any of the 117 cities we looked at," FinanceBuzz says. "Additionally, home values have risen at the slowest rate of any city in the country — nearly 73% slower than the national average." Hey, at least they have the 49ers, and nobody can take that away from them. Meanwhile, Frisco, Texas; Gilbert, Arizona; and Chandler, Arizona are the fastest-rising cities in the U.S. Texas actually has a whopping four cities that rank in the top 25 fastest-declining metropolitan areas.

So, which Michigan city's population is tanking? It's Detroit, at No. 5 on the list of cities with shrinking populations. That surprises me, because it's really come back and, in my opinion, as booming as ever. "Detroit’s population has fallen by 7.4% since 2019, a rate that is bested only by San Francisco, California," the study says. "Beyond an exodus of people, per capita income has risen 75% slower than average. That’s the third-worst rate in the country." Find more here.

For those currently in the process of job hunting, the market is working in your favor right now. There are plenty of job opportunities available. Representatives from the Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget came together for a conference in Lansing on Tuesday. The event aimed to chart the course of the state's employment landscape for the next seven years. Additionally, they’re working to ensure people know about the jobs currently in high demand.

Yesterday, the DTMB and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity released two publications: Michigan’s Hot 50 and Michigan’s Career Outlook. Michigan’s Hot 50 brochure provides a comprehensive list of careers projected to have high demand and offer competitive wages, with the projections extending until 2030. This informative resource includes key details such as job titles, projected annual job openings, hourly wage ranges, insights into job growth, and the necessary education or training levels.

For people with a high school diploma and short-term training, several careers are expected to experience heightened demand over the next eight years. These careers include amusement and recreation attendants, animal caretakers, exercise trainers, group fitness instructors, bartenders, hosts, and hostesses.

On the other hand, for those with a bachelor’s degree or higher, the demand is projected to be strong for professions including general and operations managers, accountants, auditors, medical and health services managers, physician assistants, and industrial engineers.

The information gathered in these lists is valuable for students and job seekers. It assists them in making informed decisions about their future paths.

"It is our goal to provide our education and workforce partners with the information they need to help Michiganders find their path to high-demand, high-wage jobs," Scott Powell, director of the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget's Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, said in a news release.

Check out these five most in-demand jobs in Michigan, as highlighted by Michigan's Department of Technology, Management, and Budget. See the complete list here.

The projected annual job openings amount to 6,545, offering an hourly wage spanning from $29 to $72. Anticipated growth from 2020 to 2030 stands at 11.9%. The usual educational and training prerequisites beyond high school for this role include a bachelor's degree alongside relevant work experience.

The projected annual job openings amount to 7,635, offering an hourly wage spanning from $19 to $29. Anticipated growth from 2020 to 2030 stands at 12.7%. The usual educational and training prerequisites beyond high school for this role include a postsecondary nondegree award, short-term on-the-job training, or a license.

The projected annual job openings amount to 8,240, offering an hourly wage spanning from $21 to $40. Anticipated growth from 2020 to 2030 stands at 9.6%. The usual educational and training prerequisites beyond high school for this role include moderate on-the-job training.

The projected annual job openings amount to 6,345, offering an hourly wage spanning from $30 to $38. Anticipated growth from 2020 to 2030 stands at 7.9%. The usual educational and training prerequisites beyond high school for this role include a bachelor's degree or s license.

The projected annual job openings amount to 1,420, offering an hourly wage spanning from $19 to $30. Anticipated growth from 2020 to 2030 stands at 12%. The usual educational and training prerequisites beyond high school for this role include a bachelor's degree or s license.