Workforce

A workforce that can't be beat!

Michigan's Great Southwest offers a diverse and skilled workforce that can't be beat. Our community is committed to providing businesses the opportunity to find the employees they need at the rate they can afford, while offering individuals the opportunity to receive gainful employment.

Michigan is the eighth largest state in the United States, with a population of 9.3 million and a workforce of 4.6 million.

Some of the benefits of this area's workforce includes:

Demonstrated low turnover and low absenteeism
The area has an excellent history of labor relations.
22.5% of area employees, 12.5% of companies, are unionized.
Benton Harbor's average hourly rate for manufacturing is lower than the statewide average.
Benton Harbor has the second highest percentage of wage & salary employment in manufacturing.

Labor Force (2008)

Berrien County has a workforce of 80,925.
Employed: 75,925
Unemployed: 5,200
Unemployment Rate: 8.4%
14.8% work out of the county
3.2% work at home

Workforce composition