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News Release Information

21-498-CHI
Friday, August 20, 2021

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (312) 353-1138

Occupational Employment and Wages in Grand Rapids-Wyoming — May 2020

Workers in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area had an average (mean) hourly wage of $23.90 in May 2020, about 12 percent below the nationwide average of $27.07, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Jason Palmer noted that, after testing for statistical significance, wages in the local area were lower than their respective national averages in 19 of the 22 major occupational groups, including computer and mathematical; legal; and arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media. One group had significantly higher wages than their respective national average: sales and related.

When compared to the nationwide distribution, Grand Rapids area employment was more highly concentrated in 4 of the 22 occupational groups, including production, transportation and material moving, and architecture and engineering. Fourteen groups had employment shares significantly below their national representation, including educational instruction and library, sales and related, and computer and mathematical. (See table A.)

Table A. Occupational employment and wages by major occupational group, United States and the Grand Rapids metropolitan area, and measures of statistical significance, May 2020
Major occupational groupPercent of total employmentMean hourly wage
United StatesGrand RapidsUnited StatesGrand RapidsPercent difference (1)

Total, all occupations

100.0100.0$27.07$23.90*-12

Management

5.74.9*60.8154.53*-10

Business and financial operations

6.05.0*38.7932.81*-15

Computer and mathematical

3.31.9*46.5334.76*-25

Architecture and engineering

1.82.7*43.4138.42*-11

Life, physical, and social science

0.90.4*38.1535.27*-8

Community and social service

1.61.525.0922.86*-9

Legal

0.80.4*54.0045.56*-16

Educational instruction and library

6.14.6*28.7525.74*-10

Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media

1.31.330.9622.67*-27

Healthcare practitioners and technical

6.26.841.3036.34*-12

Healthcare support

4.63.9*15.5015.12*-2

Protective service

2.41.3*25.1121.32*-15

Food preparation and serving related

8.16.7*13.3013.391

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance

2.93.7*15.7515.16*-4

Personal care and service

1.91.5*15.6814.83*-5

Sales and related

9.48.0*22.0023.15*5

Office and administrative support

13.312.0*20.3819.55*-4

Farming, fishing, and forestry

0.30.2*16.0214.18*-11

Construction and extraction

4.33.7*25.9323.57*-9

Installation, maintenance, and repair

3.94.325.1724.75-2

Production

6.114.5*20.0819.04*-5

Transportation and material moving

8.710.7*19.0816.79*-12

Footnotes:
(1) A positive percent difference measures how much the mean wage in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area is above the national mean wage, while a negative difference reflects a lower wage.
* The mean hourly wage or percent share of employment is significantly different from the national average of all areas at the 90-percent confidence level.

One occupational group—production—was chosen to illustrate the diversity of data available for any of the 22 major occupational categories. Grand Rapids had 74,880 jobs in production, accounting for 14.5 percent of local area employment, significantly higher than the 6.1-percent share nationally. The average hourly wage for this occupational group locally was $19.04, significantly below the national wage of $20.08.

Some of the larger detailed occupations within the production group included miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators (15,150); first-line supervisors of production and operating workers (5,040); and inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers (4,470). Among the higher-paying jobs in this group were first-line supervisors of production and operating workers and chemical equipment operators and tenders, with mean hourly wages of $31.83 and $27.78, respectively. At the lower end of the wage scale were bakers ($13.55) and laundry and dry-cleaning workers ($13.61). (Detailed data for the production occupations are presented in table 1; for a complete listing of detailed occupations available go to www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_24340.htm.)

Location quotients allow us to explore the occupational make-up of a metropolitan area by comparing the composition of jobs in an area relative to the national average. (See table 1.) For example, a location quotient of 2.0 indicates that an occupation accounts for twice the share of employment in the area than it does nationally. In the Grand Rapids area, above-average concentrations of employment were found in many of the occupations within the production group. For instance, tool and die makers were employed at 10.0 times the national rate in Grand Rapids, and molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic, at 7.2 times the U.S. average. Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders had a location quotient of 0.9 in Grand Rapids, indicating that this particular occupation’s local and national employment shares were similar.

These statistics are from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, a federal-state cooperative program between BLS and State Workforce Agencies, in this case, the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget.

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Name Change

The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program has changed its name to Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) to better reflect the range of data available from the program. Data released on or after March 31, 2021, will reflect the new program name. Webpages, publications, and other materials associated with previous data releases will retain the Occupational Employment Statistics name.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Impact on May 2020 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Due to features of the OEWS methodology, the May 2020 OEWS estimates do not fully reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The May 2020 OEWS estimates are based on survey panels collected for May 2020, November 2019, May 2019, November 2018, May 2018, and November 2017. Because 5 of the 6 survey panels used to produce the estimates date from before the COVID-19 pandemic, only the most recent (May 2020) survey panel reflects changes in occupational proportions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The May 2020 OEWS employment estimates are benchmarked to the average of May 2020 and November 2019 employment from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). Although the May 2020 QCEW data reflect the early employment effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the November 2019 QCEW employment data precede the pandemic, and therefore do not reflect its impact.

In addition, as a result of the pandemic, response rates for the November 2019 and May 2020 panels were lower in some areas. Lower response rates may negatively affect data availability and data quality. More information is available at www.bls.gov/covid19/effects-of-covid-19-pandemic-on-occupational-employment-and-wage-statistics.htm.

Implementing the 2018 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) System

With the May 2019 estimates, the OEWS program began implementing the 2018 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system. Because the May 2019 and May 2020 estimates are based on a combination of survey data collected using the 2010 SOC and survey data collected using the 2018 SOC, these estimates use a hybrid of the two classification systems that contains some combinations of occupations that are not found in either the 2010 or 2018 SOC. This is the second and final year that the hybrid occupational structure will be used. The May 2021 estimates, to be published in Spring 2022, will be the first OEWS estimates based entirely on survey data collected using the 2018 SOC. For more information on the occupational classification system used in the May 2019 and May 2020 estimates, please see www.bls.gov/oes/soc_2018.htm and www.bls.gov/oes/oes_ques.htm#qf10.

Upcoming Changes to the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Methodology

With the May 2021 estimates, to be released in Spring 2022, the OEWS program plans to begin using a new estimation methodology. The new model-based methodology, called MB3, has advantages over the existing methodology, as described in the Monthly Labor Review article at www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2019/article/model-based-estimates-for-the-occupational-employment-statistics-program.htm. OEWS estimates for the years 2015-2018 were recalculated using the new estimation methodology and are available as research estimates at www.bls.gov/oes/oes-mb3-methods.htm.


Technical Note

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey is a semiannual survey measuring occupational employment and wage rates for wage and salary workers in nonfarm establishments in the United States. The OEWS data available from BLS include cross-industry occupational employment and wage estimates for the nation; over 580 areas, including states and the District of Columbia, metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), nonmetropolitan areas, and territories; national industry-specific estimates at the NAICS sector, 3-digit, most 4-digit, and selected 5- and 6-digit industry levels, and national estimates by ownership across all industries and for schools and hospitals. OEWS data are available at www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm.

The OEWS survey is a cooperative effort between BLS and the State Workforce Agencies (SWAs). BLS funds the survey and provides the procedures and technical support, while the State Workforce Agencies collect most of the data. OEWS estimates are constructed from a sample of about 1.1 million establishments. Each year, two semiannual panels of approximately 180,000 to 185,000 sampled establishments are contacted, one panel in May and the other in November. Responses are obtained by mail, Internet or other electronic means, email, telephone, or personal visit. The May 2020 estimates are based on responses from six semiannual panels collected over a 3-year period: May 2020, November 2019, May 2019, November 2018, May 2018, and November 2017. The unweighted sample employment of 83 million across all six semiannual panels represents approximately 56 percent of total national employment. The overall national response rate for the six panels, based on the 50 states and the District of Columbia, is 69 percent based on establishments and 66 percent based on weighted sampled employment. The sample in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area included 3,306 establishments with a response rate of 74 percent. For more information about OEWS concepts and methodology, go to www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_tec.htm.

A value that is statistically different from another does not necessarily mean that the difference has economic or practical significance. Statistical significance is concerned with the ability to make confident statements about a universe based on a sample. It is entirely possible that a large difference between two values is not significantly different statistically, while a small difference is, since both the size and heterogeneity of the sample affect the relative error of the data being tested.

Metropolitan area definitions

The substate area data published in this release reflect the standards and definitions established by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.

The Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area includes Barry, Kent, Montcalm, and Ottawa Counties.

For more information

Answers to frequently asked questions about the OEWS data are available at www.bls.gov/oes/oes_ques.htm. Detailed information about the OEWS program is available at www.bls.gov/oes/oes_doc.htm.

Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.

Table 1. Employment and wage data for production occupations, Grand Rapids metropolitan area, May 2020
Occupation (1)EmploymentMean wages
Level (2)Location quotient (3)HourlyAnnual (4)

Production occupations

74,8802.4$19.04$39,600

First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

5,0402.331.8366,210

Electrical, electronic, and electromechanical assemblers, except coil winders, tapers, and finishers

(5)(5)15.3631,960

Engine and other machine assemblers

4102.720.9543,570

Structural metal fabricators and fitters

2100.819.3140,160

Fiberglass laminators and fabricators

500.717.3836,150

Miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators

15,1503.217.0435,450

Bakers

8901.413.5528,180

Butchers and meat cutters

4300.815.5332,300

Meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers

2500.514.4830,120

Slaughterers and meat packers

4001.414.6230,420

Food and tobacco roasting, baking, and drying machine operators and tenders

1702.415.3932,010

Food batchmakers

1,4402.518.8839,270

Food cooking machine operators and tenders

(5)(5)18.5238,520

Food processing workers, all other

5803.714.3429,830

Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

2200.916.3734,050

Cutting, punching, and press machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

3,6105.417.7136,850

Drilling and boring machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

301.019.8041,170

Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

6102.417.4236,230

Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

(5)(5)19.3240,190

Milling and planing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

1202.020.5742,780

Machinists

4,1503.120.8543,360

Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders

(5)(5)17.7336,890

Pourers and casters, metal

401.615.6332,520

Model makers, metal and plastic

907.027.2956,750

Foundry mold and coremakers

2404.019.1839,900

Molding, coremaking, and casting machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

4,1607.215.9433,150

Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

9101.816.1333,540

Tool and die makers

2,27010.026.8055,740

Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers

2,1201.419.7541,080

Welding, soldering, and brazing machine setters, operators, and tenders

3703.018.3338,140

Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

1101.917.6236,640

Plating machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

4803.414.3429,830

Metal workers and plastic workers, all other

(5)(5)13.1027,240

Prepress technicians and workers

(5)(5)23.3748,610

Printing press operators

8201.419.3940,330

Print binding and finishing workers

2401.518.3338,120

Laundry and dry-cleaning workers

9201.413.6128,310

Sewing machine operators

2700.616.4034,110

Shoe and leather workers and repairers

1405.016.6234,560

Textile cutting machine setters, operators, and tenders

400.815.9233,120

Upholsterers

2402.416.1233,530

Cabinetmakers and bench carpenters

1,3303.819.0239,560

Furniture finishers

1703.020.6843,020

Sawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, wood

2101.216.5134,340

Woodworking machine setters, operators, and tenders, except sawing

6502.317.6036,610

Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

3700.825.0252,050

Plant and system operators, all other

500.931.6565,820

Chemical equipment operators and tenders

(5)(5)27.7857,780

Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders

2601.518.2137,890

Crushing, grinding, and polishing machine setters, operators, and tenders

800.717.5336,460

Grinding and polishing workers, hand

1301.415.4432,120

Mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders

4000.919.0639,640

Cutting and slicing machine setters, operators, and tenders

4002.017.4736,330

Extruding, forming, pressing, and compacting machine setters, operators, and tenders

4702.019.7541,070

Furnace, kiln, oven, drier, and kettle operators and tenders

(5)(5)22.5246,840

Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

4,4702.218.0537,550

Jewelers and precious stone and metal workers

1101.618.6338,760

Dental laboratory technicians

2402.119.7841,140

Ophthalmic laboratory technicians

500.618.9539,420

Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders

2,6301.916.5334,380

Painting, coating, and decorating workers

701.715.5632,360

Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders

1,1502.317.6836,770

Computer numerically controlled tool operators

1,2202.222.8147,450

Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

4004.326.0054,080

Adhesive bonding machine operators and tenders

1803.918.4238,310

Cleaning, washing, and metal pickling equipment operators and tenders

1603.015.0831,370

Etchers and engravers

401.016.4134,140

Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic

(5)(5)18.3138,090

Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders

1,1103.018.8339,170

Helpers--production workers

1,0701.215.6732,590

Production workers, all other

2,1803.013.0827,210

Footnotes:
(1) For a complete listing of all detailed occupations in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area, see www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_24340.htm.
(2) Estimates for detailed occupations may not sum to the totals due to rounding, and because the totals may include occupations that are not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(3) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
(4) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(5) Estimate not released.

 

Last Modified Date: Friday, August 20, 2021