Top 10 Hot Jobs in Ann Arbor

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By Patty Inglish, MS


High Tech Growth in Ann Arbor

Livingstone and Washtenaw Counties make up the Greater Ann Arbor Area.

Ann Arbor is famous as the home of the University of Michigan and for college football rivalries. One such rivalry is between U of M and the Ohio State University and is decades long, a lot of fun, and pretty intense..

This particular rivalry is so intense that some non-football fans even get involved, sometimes in a negative way. When U of M plays at OSU's Ohio Stadium, a local criminal element begins destroying dark blue (Michigan colors) cars in the area. I apologize to all Michiganders for such events and can report that the campus and local police and sheriffs departments have the situation under control with more forces on the streets for these games.

On one recent trip through Ann Arbor, my rental car was red (OSU colors) and a driver in a blue vehicle with the U of M fans' logo on it ran me off the road. The plate was from Michigan, but the driver was not a student or connected with U of M in any way. I wonder how he liked his traffic citation? -- I still love Michigan and always will, though.

University of Michigan is Growing Local Businesses

Speaking of U of M, Sakti3 is an incubated business from the campus-business cooperation and is led by professor Ann Marie Sastry. She and Sakti3 plan to invest $1.1 million in the business and hire around 115 or more workers.

This new company seeks to commercialize a manufacturing process in Ann Arbor to develop high-power batteries that will withstand tough automotive use. they will be used primarily in eco-friendly electric vehicles. One such battery is planned to be a lithium ion battery for the Volt auto.

Another strong company is led by U of M graduate Bob Cell. This company is MyBuys retailing. MyBuys produces personalized product recommendations to their customers of online retailers, like a Personal Shopper. The MyBuys first office in Ann Arbor includes investments of over $5.4 million and needs to complete hiring got a total of 250 workers initially, with more to be added.


Friends & Rivals and Business

The famous rivalry between OSU and Michigan was traced back to a feud from way back in 1835. At this time, the State of Ohio and the Michigan Territoryfought a battle (no casualties) over a border dispute called the Toledo War. Yes! - Both sides wanted Toledo and the surrounding areas, likely because the land is near transporation waterways good for business.

Many people think that this border conflict led to the big college football rivalry today. Sports are based on war, we know.

The first RIVAL game between Ohio State and Michigan was played at Ann Arbor in 1897 and won by the U of M Wolverines, who blasted the OSU Buckeyes, 34-0.

In 2003, a US House of Representatives put forth a Resolution to recognize this long standing rivalry as the greatest rivalry in sports history.

Travel, Tourism, Accommodations, Food Service, Retail and other industries' businesses have boomed in both Ann Arbor MI and Columbus OH, because of this great rivalry.

Ann Arbor Night Skyline
Ann Arbor Night Skyline

Greater Ann Arbor

Courtesy, mlive.com
Courtesy, mlive.com
Click to Enlarge
Click to Enlarge

Top 10 Strongest Local Jobs with the Most Openings

The following list of Ann Arbor Area jobs will add from 1,600 to 4,000+ new positions in the decade 2004 - 2014. New companies like Sakti3 and MyBuys will add numbers to this list as well.

  1. Healthcare Practitioners/ Techs - growing through 2100.
  2. Education, Training, Library Jobs - this is encouraging.
  3. Food Preparation & Service
  4. Sales and Related, including Sales Supervisors - indicates good retail trade.
  5. Transport & Materials Moving
  6. Office & Administrative Support Positions
  7. Registered Nurses [RNs] - growing with #1 above.
  8. Management Occupations - all fields
  9. Construction & Extraction Jobs
  10. Business and Financial Operations Jobs - indicates economic growth.


Ann Arbor Arts Festival
Ann Arbor Arts Festival

Ann Arbor Higher Education

Descriptions of these schools and their programs can be found at Arbor Web at web address http://www.arborweb.com/collegesindex.html.

SPORTS

Besides the Michigan Wolverines, Arbor Web also lists dozens of leagues, casual teams, and individual sports in a comprehensive site. The choices are overwhelming in Ann Arbor.

See Arbor Web above for area for attractions, including over 50 lakes.

Fastest Growing Jobs by Percentage

In considering growth rates of fast growing jobs in Ann Arbor and nearby towns, the Top 15 Growth Occupations by Percentage Increase through 2014 include these jobs:

  1. Public Relations (PR) Mgrs
  2. Network Systems & Data Communications Analysts
  3. Training & Development Mgrs
  4. Dental Assistants
  5. College Level Foreign Language/Literature Teachers
  6. Public Relations (PR) Specialists
  7. Physician Assistants
  8. College Level Vocational Ed. Teachers
  9. Medical Assistants
  10. Physical Therapist Assistants
  11. Network & Computer Systems Admins
  12. Medical Records/Health Information Techs
  13. Truck Drivers for Light Deliveries (not semis/tractor trailers)
  14. Home Health Aides [HHAs]
  15. Environmental Engineers - Going Green!

These jobs will continue to increase in numbers by from 30% to nearly 65% by 2014. Notice Numbers 1 and 6: a lot of Public relations jobs are opening up, suggesting new businesses, expanding businesses and related events.


This bird of a Michigan team color might be a friendly Michi-gander.
This bird of a Michigan team color might be a friendly Michi-gander.

Dance for Mother Earth

Largest MidWest Pow Wow - Ann Arbor, springtime.

Largest Employers

The Number One Largest Employer in Ann Arbor and also in Michigan as a state is The Universty of Michigan; the link takes you to their employment page. Other of the Largest Ann Arbor Area Employers include;

  • The Audiology Div. of the U of M
  • The U of M Medical School
  • TRW Chassis Systems - autos
  • St. Joseph Mercy Health System
  • Veterans Administration Hospital
  • Pepsico

Famous Company HQ in Washtenaw County

  • Borders Group, Inc. (books)
  • Domino's Pizza
  • Google AdWords
  • ProQuest - knowledge


Local Job Search Links

  1. Ann Arbor Jobs
  2. Ann Arbor Accounting/Finance jobs on Craigslist
  3. Ann Arbor, MI Jobs on SnagAJob
  4. Ann Arbor Diversity Employment
  5. Ann Arbor Jobs on Indeed.com

MichiganWorks! No Worker Left Behind.- GREEN JOBS INITIATIVE

MichiganWorks! Provides 5 separate offices in the 2-county area to assist with employment needs. These offices also offer assistance and connections with childcare, transportation, and dozens of training facilties and other services in this area of the state at http://www.michiganworks.org/page.cfm/189/.


Comments

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Chef Jeff profile image

Chef Jeff  says:
3 months ago

It's nice to see there is hope in Michigan! For too many years here in Illinois we've seen lots of Michigan licence plates as people migrated in search of work.

Patty Inglish, MS profile image

Patty Inglish, MS  says:
3 months ago

I think some people that feel they cannot be retrained for other work when their plant closes down do actually have to move someplace else. For some others, they receive training for which there are no jobs. Someone needs to coordinate these efforts so that more Michigan residents can be matched with good jobs. And, I think more businesses need to move into the state faster. An Arbor is doing OK, but parts of Detroit are destitute. The Detroit casinos do big business every time I visit the city, though - I walk through and am amazed.

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