Michigan’s job market has certainly gone through some changes over the years. And that’s been cause for plenty of people to move on to other states for greener pastures. But things are looking a little brighter on some fronts. While automotive jobs may still be trending toward Mexico, China, and elsewhere, Michigan’s healthcare industry is on the rise, as are jobs in other STEM fields. Maybe you’ve got a college student in the family, considering his or her best prospects after school. Here are 10 cities that are the best for job-seekers. As you’ll note, most of these places are within close proximity to larger cities in the state, offering both job security and some of the fun draws of major metro areas.

  1. Novi

Bob Julius/Flickr With major employers like Ryder and Providence Park Hospital, plus being reasonably close to the big city, the employment opportunities in Novi are plentiful.

  1. Royal Oak

big_cat7575/Flickr This Detroit suburb is ideally situated for jobseekers, especially those looking to get into the healthcare industry. Its largest employer is William Beaumont Hospital.

  1. Midland

Ian Freimuth/Flickr Dow Chemical Company is headquartered in Midland. Plenty of opportunity for those in the STEM fields to find employment.

  1. Dearborn

Mike_tn/Flickr Henry Ford set up shop in Dearborn more than a century ago. The automotive company still remains one of the city’s most important employers.

  1. Kentwood

Don Buciak II/Flickr Just outside of Grand Rapids, you’re likely to find work with Michigan-based Meijer here.

  1. Rochester Hills

Facebook Here, you’ll get the tranquility of suburban life and the stability of working at places like Oakland University.

  1. Portage

Paladin27/Flickr If you’re interested in working in the state’s important medical industry, you’ll find work at Pfizer or Stryker in Portage.

  1. Livonia

Yelp In Livonia you’ll find a decent mix of opportunities in healthcare and automotive, as St. Mary Mercy Livonia Hospital and supplier NYX Inc. are major job providers.

  1. Grand Rapids

Kyle Van Horn/Flickr Forbes in 2013 named Grand Rapids the fourth in the country for jobseekers. That has a lot to do with the region’s diverse economy. The area is rich in healthcare, furniture manufacturing, and increasingly, the hospitality industry. Pictured here, a truck for Steelcase, one of the “Big 3” furniture makers.

  1. Westland

“Westland, Michigan City Hall 2” by PeRshGo - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Commons Folks in Westland seem to have an easier time finding work. The suburban city’s got a 6.1%unemployment rate, far below the state average.

From a purely economic standpoint, these places make a lot of sense. But there are obviously a lot of other parts of Michigan that didn’t make the cut. Tell us, what else is important to you when you consider looking for a place to work?

Bob Julius/Flickr

With major employers like Ryder and Providence Park Hospital, plus being reasonably close to the big city, the employment opportunities in Novi are plentiful.

big_cat7575/Flickr

This Detroit suburb is ideally situated for jobseekers, especially those looking to get into the healthcare industry. Its largest employer is William Beaumont Hospital.

Ian Freimuth/Flickr

Dow Chemical Company is headquartered in Midland. Plenty of opportunity for those in the STEM fields to find employment.

Mike_tn/Flickr

Henry Ford set up shop in Dearborn more than a century ago. The automotive company still remains one of the city’s most important employers.

Don Buciak II/Flickr

Just outside of Grand Rapids, you’re likely to find work with Michigan-based Meijer here.

Facebook

Here, you’ll get the tranquility of suburban life and the stability of working at places like Oakland University.

Paladin27/Flickr

If you’re interested in working in the state’s important medical industry, you’ll find work at Pfizer or Stryker in Portage.

Yelp

In Livonia you’ll find a decent mix of opportunities in healthcare and automotive, as St. Mary Mercy Livonia Hospital and supplier NYX Inc. are major job providers.

Kyle Van Horn/Flickr

Forbes in 2013 named Grand Rapids the fourth in the country for jobseekers. That has a lot to do with the region’s diverse economy. The area is rich in healthcare, furniture manufacturing, and increasingly, the hospitality industry. Pictured here, a truck for Steelcase, one of the “Big 3” furniture makers.

“Westland, Michigan City Hall 2” by PeRshGo - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Commons

Folks in Westland seem to have an easier time finding work. The suburban city’s got a 6.1%unemployment rate, far below the state average.

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