MHC Insight‘s latest report, HealthSights: Medical Technicians, includes an analysis of Michigan’s Medical Technician workforce in the third quarter (July-September) of 2021.
Data from the third quarter of 2021, including July, August, and September, showed the employer demand for Medical Technician occupations in the State of Michigan remained relatively steady. There were 35 fewer postings (0.85 percent) during Q3 2021 than in Q2 2021, but 1,107 more postings (37.4 percent) than during Q3 2020. This suggests that demand for these occupations has risen throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and has remained elevated. Indeed, in July 2020, during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a spike in the amount of demand for all medical technician occupations, and this has remained high ever since. This increase in demand is compounded by the decline in completions since 2012 (see completions graphic), resulting in a talent shortage of Medical Technician occupations across the State of Michigan.
Online job postings can represent the ceiling of demand for medical technician jobs in the State of Michigan, but only if employers are actively advertising online. This results in certain jobs being overrepresented by job postings in relation to the actual number of positions available, while other jobs are underrepresented.
In 2020, there were 37,003 individuals working in Medical Technician occupations in the State of Michigan. 70 percent of the workforce was female, while 30 percent were male. While most of those working in Michigan were white (81 percent), African American or Black workers accounted for nine percent of the workforce. Those identifying as having a Hispanic or Latino ethnicity accounted for three percent. The majority of the workforce (74 percent) was between the ages of 25 and 54, but nearly a fifth (15 percent) were between 55-64, and may be approaching retirement.
Generally, completions for Medical Technician occupations have declined since 2012, and this may help explain the increase in employer demand.
This information has been sourced by EMSI and analyzed by Michelle Wein, Director of Data & Research at Michigan Health Council, as part of the HealthSights series. The HealthSights series seeks to explore historical, current, and future trends in Michigan’s health care workforce, while providing context to employers, educators, workforce development professionals, and policymakers that assist with health care talent development in the State of Michigan.
Download the full report below.
If you have any questions or would like to request custom data, please visit mhc.org/mhc-insight.