A Wealth of Workers

There’s a reason why Greater Grand Rapids has enjoyed a century-old reputation for manufacturing excellence … and it’s our workforce. People here are highly skilled, motivated and exceptionally adaptable to changes in technology. Thanks to the region’s network of educational institutions – including over 20 colleges and universities – graduates have a solid knowledge base that enables them to move quickly into new industries and markets. And with over half our 1.3 million residents under the age of 35, companies can draw from a large pool of young, energetic workers – and isn’t that every employer’s dream? We offer:

• Over 546,000 individuals between the ages of 21 and 50
• A median household income of $51,553
• The third-highest concentration of automotive and mechanical engineers in the world
• One of the top regions globally for employment in biotech and chemicals
• 22.7% manufacturing employment
• More than 60,500 health care and social services professionals
• More than 88,000 production workers
• A metro area that has been selected as one of America’s "Best Places to Live and Work" by both Best Places Rated Almanac and Expansion Management, which ranked us a “Four-Star Community.”