Health jobs are crucial to Michigan’s economy

With the downturn in Michigan's economy, the role the healthcare industry plays as the state's leading employer has never been more important, a new study shows. Michigan's hospitals directly employ 515,700 people, generate $36.7 billion in annual taxes, and pay out $26.3 billion a year in salaries and benefits, according to the fourth annual health survey by the Michigan Health & Hospital Association and the state's two leading physician organizations.