Japanese firms employ 35K in Mich., up by 6%

Posted on March 22, 2013

Japanese companies employ more than 35,000 people in Michigan, up 6 percent over 2011, with half in the manufacturing sector.

Of total jobs of Japanese firms in the state, 95 percent are held by Michigan residents — or 33,815 — and 1,739 are Japanese citizens working in the state.

“Japanese automakers and their suppliers continue to boost investments in their R&D, sales, as well as manufacturing operations in the great state of Michigan,” said Kuninori Matsuda, Japan’s top diplomat in Detroit. “These companies have rebounded admirably from the challenges of the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011, and as Michigan’s economy and business climate continues to strengthen, so too does their commitment to producing, employing and investing locally.”

Most of the facilities are manufacturing related — 262 — and 167 are auto-sector related. The auto sector accounts for 43 percent of total employment.

Staff, The Detroit News.