| Skilled Labor |
Regional Labor Force Statistics, July 2007
| MSA/Labor Market Area | Labor Force | Employed | Unemployed | Unemp. Rate |
| Midland LMA | 42,350 |
39,775 |
2,575 |
6.1% |
| Saginaw MSA | 96,600 |
88,800 | 7,800 | 8.1% |
| Bay City MSA | 54,700 | 50,700 | 4,100 | 7.5% |
| Saginaw-Midland-Bay | 193,650 | 179,275 | 14,475 | 7.5% |
| State of Michigan | 5,108,000 | 4,706,000 | 402,000 | 7.9% |
Source: Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth, August 2007. Data are preliminary and not seasonally adjusted. The Midland LMA includes all of Midland County. More Midland County labor force statistics are available below.
No matter what your business or industry, you need ready employees to be successful. Midland County boasts a highly skilled labor force ready and waiting for your company. The Midland workforce has above the Michigan and national averages of advanced degrees, with specialties in the printing, chemical manufacturing, plastics, machine manufacturing, construction, chemical plant construction and plastic technology industries. Almost 30 percent of Midland’s over-25 workforce possesses a bachelor’s degree or higher. In fact, 11.6 percent of Midland’s workforce has graduate or professional degrees.
| County Statistic | Midland | Michigan | United States |
| Population Over 25 | 53,497 | 6,415,941 | 52,168,981 |
| High School Diploma or Equivalent | 88.9% | 83.4% | 80.3% |
| Some College, No Degree | 58.9% | 52.1% | 51.7% |
| Associate's Degree | 37.6% | 28.8% | 30.7% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 29.2% | 21.8% | 24.4% |
| College or Professional Degree | 11.6% | 8.1% | 8.9% |
Source: 2000 U.S. Census
Yet the true value of locating your business in Midland isn’t simply Midland’s capacity to provide you with a qualified, motivated workforce. It’s our high capacity for innovation that helps more established businesses realize new dreams, and more entrepreneurs realize their first ones, than almost anywhere else in Michigan. From establishing the new Mid-Michigan Innovation Center (a 120,000-square-foot facility with 14 wet labs and ready infrastructure) to helping local companies such as Michigan Molecular Institute, Dendritech (the largest dendrimer production facility in the world), Aegis Environments, and QuadSil succeed, Midland County has made its name synonymous with "entrepreneurial spirit."Not only does Midland County boast a skilled workforce, it is also located in a strong labor market, which combines Midland County's experience in the chemical industry with expertise in thermoforming, automotive and manufacturing. The data below shows the labor base from Midland and surrounding counties - workers who are potentially available for you.
Midland County Labor Force Data, 2006 - 2007
| Month | Total Labor Force | Employed | Unemployed | Unemployment Rate |
| January 2006 |
42,679 |
40,096 | 2,583 | 6.1% |
| February 2006 |
42,559 |
39,814 | 2,745 | 6.4% |
| March 2006 |
42,648 |
39,893 | 2,755 | 6.5% |
| April 2006 |
42,624 |
40,239 | 2,385 | 5.6% |
| May 2006 |
42,764 |
40,510 | 2,254 | 5.3% |
| June 2006 |
43,057 |
40,596 | 2,461 | 5.7% |
| July 2006 |
42,618 |
40,004 | 2,614 | 6.1% |
| August 2006 |
42,341 |
40,141 | 2,200 | 5.2% |
| September 2006 |
42,433 | 40,241 | 2,192 | 5.2% |
| October 2006 |
43,109 | 41,203 | 1,906 | 4.4% |
| November 2006 |
43,420 | 41,267 | 2,153 | 5.0% |
| December 2006 |
43,359 | 41,032 | 2,327 | 5.4% |
| Annual Data 2006 |
42,801 | 40,420 | 2,381 | 5.6% |
| January 2007 |
43,075 | 40,500 | 2,575 | 6.0% |
| February 2007 |
42,825 | 40,225 | 2,600 | 6.1% |
| March 2007 |
42,750 | 40,150 | 2,575 | 6.1% |
| April 2007 |
42,300 | 39,900 | 2,375 | 5.6% |
| May 2007 |
43,175 | 40,925 | 2,250 | 5.2% |
| June 2007 |
42,700 |
40,200 |
2,525 |
5.9% |
Midland County Labor Force and Employment
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation maintains a map of Michigan unemployment rates by county. Midland's rate is below the state average due to the strength and diversity of our economic base. The chart below shows the growth of Midland's labor force from 1970 to 2004. Overall, the number of workers in the labor force has continued to increase.
Midland County Labor Force Data, 1995-2004
| Year | Total Labor Force | Employed | Unemployed | Unemployment Rate |
| 1995 | 40,772 | 38,729 | 2,043 | 5.0% |
| 1996 | 41,309 | 39,780 | 1,529 | 3.7% |
| 1997 | 42,338 | 41,025 | 1,313 | 3.1% |
| 1998 | 42,535 | 41,310 | 1,225 | 2.9% |
| 1999 | 43,297 | 42,160 | 1,137 | 2.6% |
| 2000 | 44,689 | 43,401 | 1,288 | 2.9% |
| 2001 | 44,693 | 43,055 | 1,638 | 3.7% |
| 2002 | 43,604 | 41,425 | 2,179 | 5.0% |
| 2003 | 43,557 | 40,961 | 2,596 | 6.0% |
| 2004 | 41,603 | 38,910 | 2,693 | 6.5% |
| 2005 | 41,955 | 39,532 | 2,423 | 5.8% |
