Market Report from the MLCC, MAF, & EA: please be sure to allow images to fully enjoy this newsletter.
June 2013

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Employment Numbers


Labor force

Mar 2012 = 82,500
Mar 2013 = 83,500
Apr 2012 = 81,700
Apr 2013 = 83,900
May 2012 = 83,300
May 2013 = 86,500
 

 

 

Employment
Mar 2012 = 74,572
Mar 2013 = 76,500
Apr 2012 = 74,800 
Apr 2013 = 77,100
May 2012 = 76,100
May 2013 = 79,000
 


Employment by Sector

Goods Producing  
Mar 2012 = 13,900
Mar 2013 = 14,500
Apr 2012 = 14,200
Apr 2013 = 14,800
May 2012 = 14,400 
May 2013 = 15,000



Service Providing
 
Mar 2012 = 45,800
Mar 2013 = 46,700
Apr 2012 = 46,200 
Apr 2013 = 47,200
May 2012 = 47,100
May 2013 = 48,400  




Business Counseling Appointments 

 

SCORE & MI-SBTDC

Apr 2012 = 33
Apr 2013 = 42
May 2012 = 28
May 2013 = 59



Home Sales  

Apr 2012 = 149
Apr 2013 = 170
May 2012 = 184
May 2013 = 217
 

 

 

Average Sale Price
Apr 2012 = $75,894
Apr 2013 =
$100,845
May 2012 =
$85,488
May 2013 =
$90,510

 

 

Airport Traffic

Takeoffs & Landings
Apr 2012 = 2,641 
Apr 2013 = 2,129
May 2012 = 2,935
May 2013 = 2,425



Airport Cargo in lbs.
Apr 2012 = 85 
Apr 2013 = 2,027
May 2012 = 31
May 2013 = 1,519



Commercial Passengers
Apr 2012 = 3,119 
Apr 2013 = 2,880
May 2012 = 3,317
May 2013 = 3,089




MI Works! Employment Stats

Job Orders
Apr 2012 = 16
Apr 2013 = 98
May 2012 = 39
May 2013 = 107



Job Seekers
Apr 2012 = 9,683 
Apr 2013 =
 8,492
May 2012 = 10,793 
May 2013 = 3,378



Employers seeking employees
Apr 2012 = 63 
Apr 2013 = 26
May 2012 = 21
May 2013 = 23




Statistics provided by:
The Department of Energy, Labor, & Economic Growth; Local Municipalities, The Michigan Association of Realtors, the Muskegon County Airport, Muskegon Area First, the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Works! Muskegon/Oceana and the Small Business Technology & Development Center.
Check out County's latest HOT JOBS!

More People Relocate to Muskegon

Love Muskegon

217 homes were sold in Muskegon County last month which is the second highest number of sales in the past six years. Also, realtors are saying that more homes are being purchased by those who do not live in the area than in the past, as opposed to people moving within the county. 

 

Nexes Realtor, Steve Schuitema said he is currently working to relocate people from Chicago, Kentucky, Oregon and California.  "The attractiveness of Muskegon is growing," Schuitema said. "We are seeing an increase in interest from the Chicago market as well as the east side of the state."

 

Schuitema also said that while a lot of the clients he works with are discovering Muskegon for the first time, many are also moving back after a period of time away.   A California client who is interested in purchasing a home in Muskegon County told him that Muskegon is a hidden treasure and there is nothing like it in California.

 
Community Profile Visitors
The Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce has sent out 81 relocation packets in the past six months to families moving here and companies recruiting employees to the area. The online relocation tool, Living on the Lakeshore has already been viewed 20,363 times this year by people in nine different countries (see map above).  Chris Brown, Chamber Information Specialist said that the requests are coming from all over the country for visitor information.  "I am actually sending a relocation packet to a family in France today that is interested in relocating here for work," Brown said.

Young Professionals Step up in Muskegon

Future 15Muskegon is undergoing a generational shift. Jonathan Seyferth, Muskegon Area First Business Development Manager and local young professional advocate, said,  "The young people of this community are really stepping up and taking on leadership roles typically served by the baby boomer generation." 

Earlier this month, The Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce and Mlive/Muskegon Chronicle partnered on a new event called the Future 15, a program recognizing local young professionals who are making a significant impact along the Muskegon Lakeshore. This group of young leaders (shown above) is planning local festivals, starting their own companies, filling the roles of the older generation, and giving back to the community.
 
Also Intern Meet & Greet 2013 this month was the Chamber's annual Intern Meet and Greet. Now in its fifth year, this event gives professionals new to Muskegon County and college students interning at local companies the opportunity to meet, network with business owners, and tour the Muskegon Lakeshore. This year the event had record number attendance with 50 new professionals and interns attending. Participants came from all over the state and country with one intern coming from as far as Mexico.

Muskegon Businesses Pave Way for Sustainable Community

Sustainability Winners

A number of Muskegon Lakeshore businesses and community organizations received Sustainability Awards from the Muskegon Area Sustainability Coalition. The awards recognize those making a difference on all three "corners" of the sustainability triangle: economic vitality, social equity, and environmental harmony. The winners worked on projects that included everything from environmental clean-up efforts, providing health care to low income residents, wild animal rescue, and recycling. Area businesses and individuals who received the award include...
  • Dennis Kirksey of Kirksey Investment Corp.
  • Benson Drug SavMor Store
  • Carmen's Cafe
  • GE Aviation
  • VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Program of Goodwill Industries West Michigan
  • Don Studaven, former supervisor of Blue Lake Township
  • Bob Fountain, formerly with the City of Muskegon
  • Reeths-Puffer School District

Click here for the full list of winners and their contributions to the community that resulted in this award.

Advanced Manufacturing Institute to start again this fall

Advanced Manufacturing Institute

After a successful first session last winter, the  Advanced Manufacturing Institute will start again in the fall of 2013. This program will include 8 weeks of training that provides an overview of working in manufacturing. The course covers an Industry Introduction, Lean 5S, Applied Math Fundamentals, Basic Mechanical, Basic Electrical, Industrial Blueprint Reading, Quality Management, and much more!

Twelve participants graduated the initial program, many were sent by local companies. At Scherdel Sales and Technology, the two participants, Derrick Hobart and David Maynard, have followed-up on the class by pursuing an Associate's degree at MCC. "The class content and instructors really helped us to understand the systems around us at Scherdel," said Maynard. "The class benefited us, and our employer," added Hobart. Two of the initial class participated on scholarships provided by Sun Chemical. One participant received employment in the manufacturing center upon completion.
 

This report it brought to you by: 
Muskegon Area First, Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce and the Employer's Association of West Michigan

380 W. Western Avenue, Suite 202
Muskegon, MI 49440