At the Oct. 3 City Council meeting Sterling Heights’ Senior Economic Development Advisor Luke Bonner shared that, regionally, 127,000 Michigan jobs can be linked to Sterling Heights manufacturing businesses.
FCA alone accounts for over 13,000 of direct and indirect jobs, Bonner said. This, Bonner said, reveals the power and impact of the Sterling Innovation District and jobs across the entire city of Sterling Heights.
“Over the course of the last 10 years, the city has been adding population, which directly affects current and future workforce needs as well as the city’s ability to attract new businesses,” Bonner said. “According to the Emsi data, 40,000 jobs are directly and indirectly related to manufacturing — accounting for $29 billion in imports and exports.”
Data of significance gathered from the report includes:
• Sterling Heights is home to 133,618 people with 65,008 jobs.
• Area businesses and industry generated nearly $12.2 billion in gross regional product (GRP) in 2016.
• Total population in Sterling Heights has increased by 2.6% in the past five years, while the state’s population grew about 0.5%.
• Median household income in Sterling Heights is $61,828, which is almost $10,000 higher than state average (Source: Detroit News).
• The average earning reported at Sterling Heights businesses is $67,625, with the state at $59,388.
• Of the top 20 fastest growing occupations in Sterling Heights, thirteen (13) have a higher wage than $15 per hour.
• Over the five-year period from 2011 to 2016, sixteen (16) of the fastest growing occupations in the region grew by 10% or more, with the fastest growing occupations—in the engineering sector—growing anywhere from 38% to 70%.
• Sterling Heights comprises a more diverse resident base than less populated, rural regions, of the state. Almost 20% of the region classifies themselves as ethnic or racial minorities and 46% of the foreign-born residents are of Middle Eastern descent.
Sterling Heights Mayor Michael C. Taylor said he’s encouraged by the information in the report not only relating to population growth, but the City’s above-average household income and average earnings of Sterling Heights’ workforce. The Sterling Innovation District, Taylor said, is the impetus of the City’s economic growth over the past 10 years.
“From automotive to defense to engineering to innovative technology, Sterling Heights is seeing our local economy continue to grow and prosper,” Taylor said. “Sterling Heights is a city with a seat at the national table. Pound for pound, I would put Sterling Heights, our workforce, our business community, our defense contractors, and our people up against any other similar-sized city in the country. I don’t think you could find another city our size having such significant impact on national defense and overall national economy.”
The full Emsi report is attached to this release and also available on the City of Sterling Heights’ website under “Economic Development.” Media with questions or those looking to schedule an interview can contact Community Relations Director Bridget Kozlowski at (586) 446-2471 or email bkoz@sterling-heights.net.