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25 Jobs in 2022 HighSchool&GED 2022 232 N Almon St. Moscow, ID 83843 (208) 883-3500 | FAX: (208) 882-3317 www.lightcast.io
Hot Jobs Report Top
High School Occupational Outlook
LenaweeCounty anditssurroundingcounties provideafavorablelabor marketfor jobseekerswith ahighschool diploma or equivalent qualification. In 2022, 58% of job postings with education qualifications advertised minimum education requirements at the high school level. Occupations typically requiring a high school diploma or GEDforentrylevelpositionscomprise44%ofLenaweeCountyjobs,whileonly37%ofthepopulationpossesses a high school diploma or equivalent. This 7% gap in educational attainment means many employers must weigh the costs and benefits of employing workers with post-secondary education at higher wages than someone with a high school education or investing in training and upskilling for employees without their minimum education requirements. From the employee’s viewpoint, a high school degree or GED is a standard barrier to entry across all occupations and industries, and having one makes job seekers more competitive in the labor market.
Lenawee’s neighboring counties have similar, albeit more severe educational attainment gaps for occupations requiring a high school diploma or GED. Occupations typically requiring a high school education or equivalent comprise 38% of the occupational employment share in surrounding counties, while only 29% of the current population claim this as their highest level of educational attainment. This report illuminates how area workers and job seekers without a high school diploma or GED can capitalize on the current labor shortages by gaining the skills necessary to obtain profitable and meaningful employment.
Employment Without Higher Education
Workers with a high school diploma or equivalent certification have strong employment opportunities and prosperous career trajectories.Individualsseeking full-time employment immediately after obtaining their high school diploma or GED enter the workforce sooner and earn wages for longer than those who pursue postsecondary education. They avoid the debt burden commonly associated with higher education and gain additional years of practical experience, qualification employers often view as a substitute for formal education.
Post-secondary education is not a prerequisite for earning a living wage. Workers employed in 295 of 494 occupations typically requiring no formal education or a high school diploma for entry earn a living wage in Lenawee County. In surrounding counties, workers employed in 323 of the 494 occupations with entry level education requirements at or below the high school level earn a living wage.
Some occupations with a high school entry level requirement host average regional wages that are comparable to, or at times even higher than, occupations with postsecondary educational requirements.
Identifying Careers
The following characteristics describe target career areas:
High-volume of occupations reflecting in-demand competencies and skills.
Advertised salaries significantly exceeding statewide averages.
Strong historical job growth expected to persist as evidenced by high demand relative to supply.
A wide array of career entry and growth opportunities supporting workforce transitions, training, and upskilling/reskilling initiatives.
A revolving workforce with members approaching retirement age.
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Breakdown of Metrics
JOBS:
The number of occupational jobs within a region for a given year.
RESIDENT WORKERS: Workers who live and work in the same region.
NET COMMUTERS:
A measure of workers who live in one region but work in another (negative means workers are commuting out of the region to work).
PROJECTED GROWTH: The number of jobs expected above or below the 2022 job count.
HIRES:
The amount of people hired within that occupation in 2022.
SEPARATIONS:
The amount of people that stopped working in that occupation in 2022.
TURNOVER RATE:
The ratio of separations to total jobs.
AVG. ANNUAL OPENING:
The total number of openings from 2017-2022 divided by the number of years within that period.
AGE CATEGORIES:
The number of workers within an occupation that fall into that age bracket.
EARNINGS CATEGORIES: Hourly earnings by education.
OCCUPATION SCORE:
The amount that occupation fulfills the criteria created by weightings.
RANK: A simpler way of expressing occupation score.
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Lenawee County Key Highlights
Office andAdministrative Support Occupationsappear six times into theTop 25 jobs by employment size, constituting 1,887 jobs, constituting 40% of overall employment in the county’s Top 25 jobs. Lightcast projects that these occupations will add 49 new jobs over the next five years, with an average of 280 total openings annually. Wages trend slightly lower than the regional averages, ranging from $18 to $24 hourly. Occupations within this group provide opportunities across several industries, including the manufacturing, healthcare, and service industries.
Sales Occupations make an appearance in the region’s Top 25 jobs by employment share four times. They accounted for 810 jobs in 2022, and Lightcast projects that 50 new jobs will be added within the occupation group by 2027. Hourly salaries range from $16.75 for retail sales to $32 for wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives. Wholesale and manufacturing sales occupations may provide a pathway for area job seekers interested in sales, given Lenawee’s strong manufacturing base.
Production, Maintenance and Repair Occupations represent six of the Top 25 jobs by employment, accounting for 1,065 jobs and 23% of employment in the Top 25 jobs in 2022. Lightcast projects 4% growth for these occupations over the next five years, translating to 43 new jobs for the county. Median hourly wages range from $18 to almost $31, providing opportunities for career and wage advancement.
Construction Trades represent four of the county’s Top 25 jobs by employment share. They accounted for 535 jobs in 2022, and Lightcast projects a 5-year growth rate of 6% or an estimated addition of 30 new jobs by 2027. The outlook for construction laborers is fair, with Lightcast projecting 67 average annual openings and median salaries ranging from $17 an hour for general laborers to $28 for supervisors.
First-Line Supervisor Roles, while not entry level positions, appear on the Top 25 jobs list six times. All occupations in this group earn above average median wages for the Top 25 jobs by employment share. Supervisors comprise 20% of employment in the Top 25 jobs. With120 average annual openings, occupations in this group are a great potential destination for experienced workers seeking career advancement opportunities.
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Lenawee County Target Careers
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Description 2022 Jobs 5 Year Projected Growth 2022 Turnover Rate Avg. Annual Openings Age 65+ Median Hourly Earnings Typical Entry Level Education Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products 250 21 42% 33 24 $31.99 High school diploma or equivalent First-Line Supervisors of Office andAdministrative Support Workers 209 11 49% 26 13 $24.00 High school diploma or equivalent Customer Service Representatives 439 9 66% 70 22 $17.70 High school diploma or equivalent Office Clerks, General 690 4 64% 101 70 $17.70 High school diploma or equivalent First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, ExceptAircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors 82 5 62% 13 5 $23.02 High school diploma or equivalent Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel 80 8 59% 12 5 $23.86 High school diploma or equivalent Industrial Machinery Mechanics 160 13 38% 16 8 $24.50 High school diploma or equivalent First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers 229 2 40% 28 10 $30.83 High school diploma or equivalent Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers 176 4 55% 28 11 $19.02 High school diploma or equivalent First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers 90 5 51% 11 6 $28.46 High school diploma or equivalent Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators 72 4 66% 9 5 $21.83 High school diploma or equivalent Medical Secretaries andAdministrativeAssistants 115 21 42% 18 9 $18.19 High school diploma or equivalent First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers 246 6 68% 32 14 $16.75 High school diploma or equivalent Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators 154 11 63% 24 4 $19.97 No formal educational credential Food Service Managers 58 2 81% 12 3 $26.37 High school diploma or equivalent Maintenance and Repair Workers, General 277 18 47% 33 25 $17.73 High school diploma or equivalent Insurance Sales Agents 234 14 21% 26 20 $25.05 High school diploma or equivalent Carpenters 158 6 38% 19 7 $21.91 High school diploma or equivalent Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks 61 3 49% 9 3 $23.90 High school diploma or equivalent Machinists 148 4 41% 20 11 $19.57 High school diploma or equivalent First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers 76 3 41% 9 5 $29.26 High school diploma or equivalent Construction Laborers 215 15 54% 26 8 $17.24 No formal educational credential Musicians and Singers 45 7 79% 7 12 $34.68 No formal educational credential Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders 82 1 44% 21 3 $18.85 High school diploma or equivalent Court, Municipal, and License Clerks 57 0 38% 7 5 $20.51 High school diploma or equivalent
Surrounding Area Key Highlights
Construction Trades constitute five of the Top 25 jobs by employment share and accounted for 11,432 jobs in 2022. Although Lightcast does not project significant growth within this occupation group over the next five years, with 1,501 average annual openings and four jobs earning above average wages (even for the Top 25 jobs) in the area, construction occupations offer a consistent and productive employment option.
Production Occupations appear in six times in the Top 25 jobs by employment share and range from general assembly to skilled manufacturing jobs. With 13,505 jobs in the region, they account for 21% of employment across the Top 25 jobs. Over the next five years, Lighcast projects the addition of 328 new jobs in production occupations, with an annual average of 2,107 openings in the region. Additionally, 3,811 or 28% of the region’s production workers are ages 55 and older. These demographics signal future demandgrowth inproduction occupations as employers seekyounger workers toreplaceretirees.
Maintenance and Repair Occupations represent four of the Top 25 jobs, accounting for 11,899 jobs and 19% of total employment in the Top 25 occupations. Lightcast projects growth for maintenance and repair occupations over the next five years to be 3.6%, which represents the estimated addition of 424 new jobs in the area. Median hourly earnings are higher as well, in the range of $20-38 hourly. Retirement risk is also high - 3,718 workers within the occupation group are 55 years old and older, accounting for 31% of occupational workforce. Much like production occupations, employers will need to recruit younger workers to replace impending retirees in maintenance and repair.
Transportation and Material Moving Occupationsare another solid option for younger demographics. These occupations constituted 7,058 jobs in 2022, which Lightcast projects will grow with the addition of 228 new jobs by 2027. A quarter of current workers in this occupation group fall into the 55 and up age bracket. Regional demand within this group is highest for light truck drivers, with average annual openings of 424 and the projected addition of 193 new jobs in the area over the next five years.
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Surrounding Area County Target Careers
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Description 2022 Jobs 5 Year Projected Growth 2022 Turnover Rate Avg. Annual Openings Age 65+ Median Hourly Earnings Typical Entry Level Education Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products 5,468 115 42% 683 426 $29.65 High school diploma or equivalent Industrial Machinery Mechanics 2,607 256 34% 311 125 $28.23 High school diploma or equivalent Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel 3,086 47 69% 411 183 $27.34 High school diploma or equivalent Electricians 2,653 58 53% 328 109 $31.33 High school diploma or equivalent First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers 3,558 59 40% 447 143 $29.83 High school diploma or equivalent First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers 1,786 36 59% 231 102 $30.65 High school diploma or equivalent Light Truck Drivers 2,832 193 85% 425 279 $19.57 High school diploma or equivalent First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, ExceptAircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors 1,808 25 67% 275 81 $24.47 High school diploma or equivalent Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters 1,535 43 50% 215 59 $29.36 High school diploma or equivalent Construction Laborers 4,030 96 61% 509 143 $18.60 No formal educational credential Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators 1,427 30 71% 219 78 $26.53 High school diploma or equivalent First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers 4,352 181 109% 829 152 $15.92 High school diploma or equivalent Machinists 3,471 49 49% 505 220 $22.35 High school diploma or equivalent First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers 1,965 64 42% 232 110 $37.81 High school diploma or equivalent Maintenance and Repair Workers, General 6,276 50 49% 774 489 $20.37 High school diploma or equivalent Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers 1,808 100 54% 290 61 $18.91 High school diploma or equivalent Engine and Other Machine Assemblers 1,106 17 69% 257 35 $27.70 High school diploma or equivalent Food Service Managers 1,071 47 84% 194 50 $26.75 High school diploma or equivalent Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators 2,418 10 92% 390 65 $19.24 No formal educational credential Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists 1,051 53 44% 136 45 $23.43 High school diploma or equivalent Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers 2,271 9 21% 229 53 $31.34 High school diploma or equivalent Insurance Sales Agents 2,023 71 27% 249 263 $25.91 High school diploma or equivalent Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks 1,221 33 55% 185 52 $23.61 High school diploma or equivalent Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 2,002 9 55% 345 76 $20.21 High school diploma or equivalent Electrical, Electronic, and ElectromechanicalAssemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers 1,561 94 54% 262 102 $18.05 High school diploma or equivalent
Cross Region Overlap
Occupations that appear in the Top 25 for both regions:
Listed in Order of Lenawee Top 25 Ranking
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products (414012)
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, ExceptAircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors (53-1047)
Sales Representatives of Services, ExceptAdvertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel (413091)
Industrial Machinery Mechanics (49-9041)
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers (51-1011)
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers (47-1011)
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (47-2073)
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators (53-7051)
Food Service Managers (11-9051)
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General (49-9071)
Insurance Sales Agents (41-3021)
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks (43-5061)
Machinists (51-4041)
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers (49-1011)
Construction Laborers (47-2061)
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (33-3051)
AboutLightcast
Lightcastistheworld’sleadingauthorityonjobskills,workforcetalent,andlabormarket dynamics,providingexpertisethatempowersbusinesses,educationproviders,andgovernmentstofindtheskillsandtalenttheyneedandenablingworkerstounlocknewcareer opportunities.HeadquarteredinBoston,Massachusetts,andMoscow,Idaho,Lightcastis activeinmorethan30countriesandhasofficesintheUnitedKingdom,Italy,NewZealand, andIndia.ThecompanyisbackedbyglobalprivateequityleaderKKR.
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