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Great Lakes generate more than 1.5 million jobs, study finds

More than 500,000 Michigan jobs are directedly related to the Great Lakes.
merchantmarinejobs.org
More than 500,000 Michigan jobs are directedly related to the Great Lakes.

The Great Lakes have a bigger impact on Michigan’s economy than many people  may realize.

The Michigan Sea Grant says more than a million and a half jobs are directly connected to the Great Lakes.

Those jobs generate more than $62 billion in wages every year.

"This is the second time we've done this analysis," says Jennifer Read of Michigan Sea Grant. "And it's always surprising -- to me, at least --  the extent of the jobs that are directly related to the Great Lakes, across multiple sectors.  It's just a huge impact.

 Michigan Sea Grant is part of the NOAA-National Sea Grant network of more than 30 university-based programs, including the University of Michigan and Michigan  State University.

Read says Michigan has the highest number of jobs that depend on the lakes – more than a half-million.

Most of the jobs are in manufacturing, shipping, fishing, recreation and tourism.