TROY ? Technology employment in the greater Metro Detroit region ranks favorably against some of the country?s top technology clusters, including San Jose, Ca., Seattle, Austin, Chicago and even Boston, the latest Automation Alley Technology Reports contends.
With data compiled by the Anderson Economic Group of East Lansing, Automation Alley?s Technology Industry Report benchmarks the metro Detroit region against 14 other high-tech hubs across the nation in terms of job creation, business creation, innovation and education. These traits also serve as a tool for attracting talent and investment to the region.
This year?s presentation featured an interview-style discussion between Jeff Green, Bloomberg News Detroit bureau chief, and Patrick Anderson, Anderson Economic Group principal and CEO.
“The total tech jobs have grown in Southeast Michigan to 250,000, equal to another computing tech hub in Silicon Valley,” Anderson said. But the big difference between the two regions is Southeast Michigan tech jobs are far more diversified, he said. He also pointed out that Southeast Michigan produces far more tech talent that Silicon Valley, graduating from Wayne State, Oakland University and the University of Michigan a lot of students with degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, what’s been dubbed STEM.
“We’re sustaining our advantage by developing our talent,” Anderson said. “We even compete well with Boston.”
But closer tech cluster rivals are growing as well. Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Cleveland are all on the rise. Farther away, Dallas-Fort Worth, as well as Austin, Texas, are developing tech clusters rapidly.
Kelly Kozlowski, Automation Alley senior director, added: ?This report has the power to drive change in Southeast Michigan because it tells us who we really are as a region. It makes it clear that we are one of the leading centers for technology and innovation in the America.”
Turning to the report, when benchmarked against the 14 other technology hubs analyzed in the report, metro Detroit ranks:
1st nationally in the number of advanced automotive industry jobs and establishments
1st nationally in the number of engineering technology degrees earned
1st in the Midwest in the concentration of tech-focused jobs
1st nationally in the number of architectural and engineering jobs
2nd in the Midwest in the number of utility patents issued
3rd nationally in the percentage of total employment in the technology industry
3rd nationally in the number of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) degrees earned
3rd in the Midwest in the number of technology establishments
To download the full report, Click on AutomationAlley.Com
