ANN ARBOR – Michigan’s biosciences industry saw significant gains according to a new report with some 44,277 jobs, a gain of almost 2,400 since the last findings in 2014.

The report, TEConomy/BIO The Value of Bioscience Innovation in Growing Jobs and Improving Quality of Life 2016 Report was released Tuesday during the annual BIO International Convention in San Francisco, California.

The TEConomy/BIO report measures growth in the bioscience sector from 2012-2014. Several indicators for success were measured including the numbers of employees and companies, average wages, academic R&D expenditures, venture capital investments, and number of patents issued.

Key findings in regards to the Michigan profile saw Michigan’s total employment in the biosciences grew 5.7 percent to 44,277, a gain of almost 2,400 jobs since the last findings in 2014. The increase was led by a robust 11 percent gain in the Drugs & Pharmaceuticals sector, demonstrating seemingly a nice recovery following the sector’s consolidation during the latter part of the last decade.

Employment in the Bioscience-related Distribution, Medical Devices & Equipment and Research/Testing/Medical Laboratories sectors improved by 6 percent, 5.7 percent and 5 percent , respectively.

It’s noteworthy that Michigan has a strong employment concentration in the Medical Devices & Equipment sector with a location quotient of 1.10. Overall, the total employment impact of the biosciences industry in Michigan is now 248,348, with all the secondary jobs created.

Michigan is regarded as a “sizeable” and “concentrated” state in the Medical Devices/Equipment sector. The Drugs & Pharmaceuticals sector is back to being “sizeable” as well. This sector has seen rapid growth since 2007 as noted above. In addition to the statewide information, several Michigan regions and cities were highlighted for their employment concentration in the various bioscience sectors:

  • Kalamazoo-Portage Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) – The Kalamazoo area continues its reign as a major hub for biosciences. It is the only MSA to have specialization in all five of the bioscience sectors. It ranks 21st overall in terms of the largest employment levels in Drugs & Pharmaceuticals. Kalamazoo, as a medium MSA (total private employment between 75,000 and 250,000) and location quotient (LQ, local job concentration versus nation) is 1st in the Medical Devices & Equipment category, 3rd in the Drugs & Pharmaceuticals sector, 15th in Research, Testing & Medical Laboratories, and 7th in Bioscience-related Distribution; 
  • Detroit MSA – The Detroit area is ranked 12th overall in employment as a large MSA in both the Bioscience-related Distribution and Research, Testing & Medical Laboratories sectors;
  • Ann Arbor MSA – Ann Arbor as a medium MSA is 7th in LQ for Medical Devices & Equipment and Research, Testing & Medical Laboratories;
  • Lansing-East Lansing MSA – The Michigan Capitol area appeared on the rolls as a medium MSA for the first time and placed 15th in LQ for the Drugs & Pharmaceuticals sector;
  • Holland-Grand Haven MSA – The Holland-Grand Haven medium MSA area is 13th by LQ in the Drugs & Pharmaceuticals category;
  • Midland MSA – This mid-Michigan region appeared for the first time as a small MSA with an 8th LQ ranking in Drugs & Pharmaceuticals;
  • Niles-Benton Harbor MSA – In the Medical Devices & Equipment sector, the SW Michigan area ranks 3rd by LQ for a small MSA;
  • Jackson MSA – As a small MSA, the Jackson area is 12th in LQ in the Medical Devices & Equipment sector;
  • Battle Creek MSA – As a small MSA, the Battle Creek area appears for the first time as 12th in LQ in the Research, Testing & Medical Laboratories sector.

Michigan is home to the global headquarters for Stryker, Dow Chemical, Dow Corning, Kellogg Company, Amway Corporation, MPI Research, Diplomat Pharmacy, and Ferndale Pharma Group; the North American headquarters of Perrigo and the R&D headquarters of Zoetis. Pfizer, Beckman Coulter, Mead Johnson, Abbott Nutrition, Bayer CropScience, Cardinal Health, AmeriSource Bergen, Covance, Emergent BioDefense, Endo (Par) Pharmaceuticals, Orchid Health, Albermarle Corporation and many other companies have major operations located within the state.

For more information, click on http://www.michbio.org