Ottawa Co. job growth 'one of a kind'

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Recently released data shows that employment in Ottawa County is growing more than any other job market in Michigan -- more than 5,000 jobs were added in 2012 alone.

There is also the possibility of another 500 new jobs at a proposed new Perrigo plant in Holland Township, a plan announced Wednesday.

The Holland metropolitan area beat other Michigan job markets handily. Jackson employment grew just over 5%, Battle Creek 1.5%, and Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Kalamazoo all showed private sector employment growth of less than 1% in between 2010 and 2011.

Upjohn Institute analyst George Erickcek said the growth in the Holland area is astounding.

"It truly is one of a kind. Yes, we saw employment growth in Grand Rapids, it was good growth," he told 24 Hour News 8. "We've seen good growth statewide. Statewide in the past year, about 47,000 jobs were created statewide which is very good growth, but nothing  compares what we've been seeing in Ottawa County."

"We've got experts in engineering and manufacturing and design and with such a very, very talented workforce, this is really allowing our companies to strive and grow over here on what we call Michigan's West Coast."

In 2012, manufacturing jobs in the Holland area grew at an 8% rate, and Upjohn analysts expect manufacturing jobs to grow by more than 3% in 2013.