GRAND RAPIDS ? West Michigan will see a 1.2 percent bump in employment growth in 2013 followed by another 1.6 percent in 2014, lead by manufacturing and service jobs, so says economist George Erickcek in his annual forecast he prepared for the Right Place 2013 Economic Outlook for West Michigan.
Goods producings jobs, which include manufacturing, will grow by 1.1 percent while service providing jobs will grow by 1.5 percent, said Erickcek, senior regional analyst with the Upjohn Institute of Kalamazoo. The manufacturing sector led this year?s recovery, adding 2,050 of the region?s 5,000 new jobs in Kent, Ionia, Barry and Newago counties. Erickcek said he also expects to see strong growth in the service sector, led by healthcare.
?We?re still seeing employment growth in healthcare, we?re just being treated more and more out of the hospital,? he said.
While office furniture production will remain flat, Erickcek said the region?s auto part suppliers and food processors will continue to show employment growth.
Government employment, which fell by 2.4 percent this year, will fall by 0.9 percent in 2013, Erickcek said. Construction activity will be flat despite continued low interest rates, he said.
?Last year, we predicted the greater Grand Rapids area would grow by 1.1 percent and indeed, it grew by 1 percent,? he said. ?This year, we think it?s going to be not a repeat, but pretty close.?
