While many communities across the country are dealing with aging populations and declining birth rates, Grand Rapids’ talent base is younger, more diverse, and well-educated.
According to The Right Place and its 2026 Talent Report, just over 14% of the area’s population are between the ages of 25 and 34, with diverse populations driving 69% of total population growth, and 37% of the workforce has a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Greater Grand Rapids added 2,000 jobs in 2025, with 835 unique job postings referencing AI-related skills. That’s up from 282 in 2022.
However, workers are competing for fewer job openings than in years past, and employers have tightened hiring due to economic uncertainty. The average hourly wage as of January was $33.18, with an unemployment rate of 4.3%.
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