Detroit was one of the most affected areas during the recession in the beginning, helping to make Michigan the state with the highest unemployment rate. However, CNN reports that the area is now facing a comeback that is giving hope to those in the automotive industry.

Some of the strides the city has made recently include General Motors (GM) filing for one of the biggest public stock offerings in the nation”s history and Chrysler hiring on new workers. Some analysts have called Detroit a bright spot in the economy, but many recognize there is still a long way to go in terms of restoring the market to what it was prior to the recession.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the sector is expected to see a 5 percent growth in job opportunities through 2018.

DDN is the world's largest privately held information storage company with an annual revenue of more than $150 million. The company said its hiring pace continues to keep up with rapid worldwide growth, as it looks to increase its sales and engineering staff.

Alex Bouzar, chief executive officer and co-founder of DDN, said the company's expansion is largely due to customers looking for data and cloud computing support.

"Around the world, our solutions are helping scientists achieve important discoveries, businesses bring best-selling products to market faster and more profitably, governments reduce crime, and consumers experience more fun and life-like entertainment," Bouzar added. "It is a very exciting time to be in the field of technology, and we are thrilled to be at the center of it."

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for computer software engineers and computer programmers are expected to grow faster than other occupations, by 21 percent, through the end of the decade. 

Jamie Cummings, general manager of Apollo Staffing in Covington, told Cov News that many companies in the state are looking for professionals with knowledge in the skilled trades for certain industrial positions, including those who have had welding and electrical training.

Martha King, chief executive officer of Associated Staffing, told the news agency that her firm is also seeing a gap when it comes to the skilled trades.

"If we’re talking about mechanical and industrial work, there are more skilled jobs than skilled workers," King stressed.

State officials are now hoping to get more job seekers back to school with an initiative that offers financial help for certain career college training courses. The state's Hope Program is available to residents looking to attend any of the state's 26 technical colleges, and will cover up to 90 percent of the standard tuition for a technical or diploma certificate.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that professionals with an advanced postsecondary degree have the potential to earn $500 more per week than those with a high school diploma or less. 

According to the new book "Best Jobs for the 21st Century," information technology (IT) jobs are among the fastest growing, including positions for mobile applications developers. A survey by online job recruiter Dice.com found that approximately 65 percent of hiring managers expect to add technical support staff in 2012.

The demand for professionals who have attended a health science school is also expected to continue, with the U.S. needing an additional 103,900 registered nurses every year through the decade.

Justin Hirsh, president of the recruiting firm JobPlex, told CNN that medical management jobs will also  grow due to the implementation of healthcare reform.

"With all the change happening in the system now, there is churn as well as growth. We're constantly seeing new openings in general management, finance, marketing, human resources, you name it,"  Hirsh said.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that professionals with an advanced degree can earn $500 more per week than those with a high school diploma or less.
 

According to the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, the minimum education now required for an assembly-line job at a car manufacturing plant is a two-year college degree.

Economics professor Charles Ballard told the Detroit Free Press that Michigan needs to invest in the education of its future skill trades workforce.

"If there's any lesson that we should take away, it's that we need to ramp up the skills of our workforce," Ballard told the news agency. "All the richest states have one thing in common: They have a high proportion of college degrees."

Michigan performs below average when it comes to producing college graduates.

Economists are forecasting that Michigan will end this year with the first positive net increase in jobs since 2000 and predict even more job growth over the next two years.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that professionals with an advanced postsecondary degree have the potential to earn $500 more per week than those with a high school diploma or less.

The Journal Gazette reports that Metal Technologies Auburn will invest $35 million in a building expansion and new equipment with plans to hire 42 new workers with a variety of skills ranging from entry-level to those with knowledge of skilled trades.

The company said that most of the new jobs will be added once it installs a melting furnace at the foundry as part of the expansion, which is expected to be completed in 2013. Company officials said wages for the new positions will average $35,700 per year.

Metal Technologies, which currently employs more than 200 workers, makes iron castings for the construction, automotive and appliance industry. The company said it is expanding because many customers recently have been placing more orders further into the future than in past years.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for welding, soldering and brazing workers are expected to be good through the end of the decade, especially for those who have completed a welding training postsecondary program.

The WANTED Analytics report also found that recruiters posted more than 4,400 new online job ads for marketers, including those with mobile skills, during the past 90 days.

According to the report, the volume of jobs that include knowledge of mobile applications increased as mobile websites and applications continue to become a popular business marketing strategy. Marketing skills now are included in 10 percent of all job ads for marketing professionals.

In the marketing field, the report found that mobile skills are the most in demand for positions that include product manager, business development manager and strategic consultant.

Places with the highest demand for marketing professionals with mobile experience were in Metropolitan cities that included New York, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment opportunities for marketing and sales managers are expected to grow by 14 percent through the end of the decade.
 

Dana Milford, site manager for Chase's mortgage documents operations, told the Monroe News Star that the company is looking for a wide range of skills, from entry level to management, and for both permanent and temporary positions.

"Chase has continued to grow in Monroe because we've been able hire and retain exceptionally talented people who make our operation a success," Milford told the news source. "We look forward to continuing that growth with the support of our future employees."

The company said it is looking to fill approximately 250 immediate jobs to support its existing operations, as well as hire an additional 160 workers in March for a project to image and house mortgage documents bought from other companies.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for business administrative service managers are expected to grow by 12 percent through the end of the decade.

WISH TV reports quality inspection service provider Stratosphere plans to create up to 225 jobs, while Archway Technology Partners, which specializes in financial software, will add up to 140 new positions through 2015. Both companies could have a variety of openings for those who have earned an online IT associate degree or have completed other IT training programs.

Tom Gray, Stratosphere chief operating officer, said the company decided to expand in Indiana due to its positive business environment.

"We continually invest in our employees, technology, equipment and facilities in order to maintain our competitive edge and are excited to have the opportunity to continue to grow and provide more jobs and training in our home state of Indiana," Gray told the news agency.

The two companies join 33 others that announced plans to locate or expand their operations in the state over the past year.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for computer and information systems managers are expected to grow by 17 percent through 2018. 

Lloyd Halvorson, director of the Peace Training Academy in Devils Lake, told the Grand Fork Herald that the demand for criminal justice-related jobs include not only an increase in the state's population, but is also due to a number of positions becoming available by the growing number of retiring law enforcement personnel.

"The growth out west is unprecedented," Halvorson told the news agency. "Some of the agencies out west are doubling or tripling in size in the last three years. The number one reason over the past decade is that people are not staying in law enforcement as long as they once did."

Halvorson said that if law enforcement officials are willing to relocate to where there is the largest demand for officers, they should have no problem finding a job.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for police officers are expected to grow by 9 percent through the end of the decade.